The European Parliament reportedly approved a resolution targeting the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, 8 October 2026, calling for a European strategy to address what the EU describes as “Islamist entryism” and the influence of networks linked to the organisation.
According to the voting figures provided, the resolution passed with 381 votes in favour, 167 against and 15 abstentions.
Of Cyprus’s six MEPs, only Geadis Geadi of ELAM was recorded as participating in the roll-call vote. He voted in favour, while the other five Cypriot representatives were not recorded as having voted.
The distinction is important, as not participating in a vote is not the same as formally abstaining.
What the resolution proposes
The resolution calls for a common European approach to identifying practices described as “Islamist entryism”, with particular emphasis on transparency in organisational funding, institutional partnerships and the potential use of EU programmes to gain political influence.
The term “entryism” refers to a strategy whereby individuals or organised groups seek to influence established political institutions, organisations or social structures from within to advance their ideological objectives.
The concept has its roots in political history, particularly the tactics employed by certain Trotskyist organisations during the 20th century.
In this context, “Islamist entryism” is used to describe similar tactics allegedly employed by certain political Islamist networks.
The European Parliament also calls on the Council of the EU to examine whether specific individuals and organisations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood meet the legal criteria for inclusion on the EU’s terrorist list.
The resolution does not automatically ban the Muslim Brotherhood and is not legally binding legislation.
Controversy over Muslim youth organisations
The resolution makes particular reference to FEMYSO, a federation of Muslim youth and student organisations in Europe that has faced questions concerning its funding and relationships with European institutions.
The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), meanwhile, has rejected allegations of links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
ENAR criticised the resolution as targeting Muslim organisations and groups working to combat discrimination.
How the European political groups voted
According to the figures provided, the Muslim Brotherhood resolution received most of its support from the European People’s Party (EPP), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Patriots for Europe, Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) and a significant proportion of Renew Europe.
The Socialists, Greens and the Left opposed the resolution.
How Cyprus’s six MEPs voted
Geadis Geadi of ELAM was the only Cypriot MEP recorded as voting in favour of the resolution.
The remaining five Cypriot MEPs did not participate in the roll-call vote:
- Loucas Fourlas
- Michalis Hadjipantela
- Costas Mavrides
- Giorgos Georgiou
- Fidias Panayiotou
None of the five was recorded as formally abstaining.
Six Greek MEPs voted in favour, three against
Of Greece’s 21 MEPs, nine participated in the roll-call vote.
Six voted in favour:
- Vangelis Meimarakis, New Democracy
- Manolis Kefalogiannis, New Democracy
- Dimitris Tsiodras, New Democracy
- Galato Alexandraki, Greek Solution
- Emmanouil Fragkos, Greek Solution
- Nikolaos Anadiotis, Niki
Three voted against:
- Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
- Kostas Papadakis, Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
- Maria Zacharia, Course of Freedom
The remaining 12 Greek MEPs, including representatives of PASOK and SYRIZA, did not participate in the vote.
No Greek MEP was recorded as formally abstaining.
The European Parliament passed a resolution today calling for the Muslim Brotherhood to be banned and for measures to be taken against the Muslim Brotherhood. @CelineImart from the EPP was the lead author while other MEPs such as @NicolasBay_, @NathalieLoiseau and @tangercorreamep, @TomasZdechovsky, @Assita_Kanko, @SusannaCeccardi, and @SardoneSilvia, were also driving forces pushing it through. The text Parliament adopted today was tabled on behalf of the European People’s Party (EPP) and is titled: “The need for an EU strategy to counter Islamist entryism and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood network” Imart described the aim as shutting the door on the “Muslim Brotherhood in suits and ties,” naming FEMYSO (the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations) as an example, and as stopping EU money reaching Islamist-linked entities. It passed 381–167, with 15 abstentions. Support came mainly from the EPP, Renew, ECR, Patriots for Europe and ESN. The Social democrats from S&D, the Greens and The Left voted overwhelmingly against the motion. It’s now up to the Commission, the Council and Member States to make sure it becomes reality and that the easy life of the Muslim Brotherhood comes to an end. Several countries, such as Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have already banned the Brotherhood. There is no reason for why Europe shouldn’t follow suit. https://t.co/BZ5JX4MUKD
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2026
Also read: Cyprus talks: Government seeks tangible progress
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