Three Cypriot MEPs have called on the European Union to take concrete action against Turkey, arguing that statements of condemnation are no longer enough to address disputes over Cyprus, Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Loukas Fourlas, Costas Mavrides and Geadis Geadi made their calls on Wednesday during a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council meeting held on October 15 and 16.
The debate, attended by European Council President António Costa, covered European competitiveness, the next EU budget, Ukraine and migration, as well as security challenges facing the bloc.
Fourlas calls for action over Turkey-Libya deal
DISY and European People’s Party (EPP) MEP Loukas Fourlas condemned the ratification of the Turkey-Libya maritime delimitation memorandum, describing it as “invalid and unfounded” and arguing that it violates Greece’s sovereign rights.
He welcomed the swift condemnation issued by the three EU institutions following a joint statement by the Cypriot and Greek delegations within the EPP.
However, he stressed that declarations alone were insufficient.
“Condemnations are not enough. Actions are now needed,” Fourlas said.
He also questioned why Turkey was allowed to host conferences in Antalya while refusing to recognise the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Fourlas criticised the prospect of European officials attending events involving a Turkish Cypriot representative, accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of attempting to promote the representative “through the back door”.
He described such practices as unacceptable.
Mavrides warns against appeasement in the Eastern Mediterranean
DIKO and Socialists and Democrats (S&D) MEP Costas Mavrides said European citizens expected security, affordable housing and a decent standard of living.
He called for adequate funding for EU cohesion policy, with particular attention to islands and remote regions.
Mavrides argued that European defence and security must be guaranteed consistently across the bloc, warning that what he described as a policy of appeasement in the Eastern Mediterranean had encouraged Turkey’s “neo-Ottoman policies”.
Referring to what he characterised as threats against Cyprus and Greece, he cited the occupation of territory, the instrumentalisation of migration and threats of war.
He called on EU leaders to move beyond statements and consider concrete measures.
“Have you ever proposed any sanctions against neo-Ottoman policies?” he asked.
Geadi demands economic sanctions
ELAM and European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) MEP Geadis Geadi criticised the issuance of a new Turkish NAVTEX, which he said challenged the sovereign rights of EU member states.
He also condemned the approval of the Turkey-Libya memorandum by Libya’s House of Representatives.
Geadi accused the EU of applying different standards to Russia and Turkey, contrasting its response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine with its approach to the division of Cyprus.
“Occupation in Ukraine – sanctions. Occupation in Cyprus – words,” he said.
Addressing Costa, Geadi said Europe included Greece, the Aegean and Cyprus. He called for consequences for Turkey, specifically economic sanctions.
EU political groups divided over budget and migration
The debate also highlighted differences between the European Parliament’s political groups over the EU’s next long-term budget, migration, defence and economic policy.
EPP leader Manfred Weber welcomed an agreement with China in the automotive sector but raised concerns about proposed cuts in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), particularly affecting agriculture, defence and border protection.
He argued that repayment of the NextGenerationEU recovery fund should be financed through new EU own resources rather than cuts to the budget. He also reaffirmed the EPP’s support for Ukraine.
S&D leader Iratxe García Pérez called for a stronger EU budget and greater solidarity to address housing, energy, social protection and defence challenges. She criticised right-wing and far-right rhetoric on migration and called for respect for asylum seekers’ rights and safe, legal routes.
Speaking for Patriots for Europe, Kinga Gál criticised the European Council’s decisions on migration and the economy. She opposed increasing the European Commission’s resources and powers through the next MFF, calling instead for stronger protection of external borders, farmers and regions.
ECR representative Nicola Procaccini called for revisions to aspects of the European Green Deal and the emissions trading system (ETS), less bureaucracy and stronger border protection. He also argued that funding for agriculture and regions should be maintained in the next budget.
Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer backed the European Council’s priorities on competitiveness and energy, stressing the need to tackle the rising cost of living. She also warned against the risk of a “new Yalta”, in which Europe could be divided into spheres of influence between the United States and Russia, and called for stronger European support for Ukraine.
EU leaders prepare November budget summit
Closing the debate, Costa identified the cost of living, particularly housing and energy, as a central EU priority.
He announced that he would present a new, detailed negotiating package for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. The package is due to be discussed at an extraordinary European Council meeting on November 26 and 27, with the aim of moving towards an agreement in December.
Costa said the new EU budget should be approved by the end of 2026 to allow it to take effect in January 2028.
He also reiterated the importance of funding cohesion policy, agriculture, housing and collective European defence.
Also read: Turkish media hail Turkey-Libya maritime deal
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
