A resolution adopted on Wednesday by the European Parliament calls on the EU to act urgently and ensure its own security, which means, MEPs say, that the EU will be strengthening its relationships with like-minded partners. An amendment was also passed during the vote, which calls on Turkey to end the occupation of Cyprus.
During a debate on the subject on Tuesday evening, Cypriot MEPs raised the issue of Turkey’s role for the architecture of European defence and underlined the ongoing illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkey.
Two political groups submitted proposals for amendments during the EP plenary’s voting session on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and end the occupation. The proposal submitted on behalf of the Left, also referred to the need for all those processes and actions on the Cyprus issue to be carried out through and take into account UN resolutions. This was not mentioned in the proposal submitted by the ECR.
By passing the amendments, the EP “reiterates its call on the Republic of Turkey, a NATO member state and candidate for membership of the European Union, to respect international law, recognise the Republic of Cyprus and immediately end the occupation and withdraw its troops from the island.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
The so-called “White Paper” on the future of European defence, that the Commission and the High Representative are expected to present to the Council next week, “should put forward concrete proposals to the European Council to enable truly ground-breaking efforts” and actions “close to those of wartime,” MEPs say, also welcoming the recently tabled ReArm plan.
The text also noted that the EU must enable its administration to “move much faster through the procedures”, in case of war or other large-scale security crises. While stressing the importance of EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs also call for the development of a fully capable European pillar in NATO that is able to act autonomously whenever necessary.
Also read: EU is committed to UN resolutions on Cyprus
Source: CNA
