President Nikos Christodoulides said today that countries which violate the sovereignty or territorial integrity of EU member states cannot benefit from the SAFE defence fund Cyprus.
Speaking in Copenhagen on the sidelines of the Informal European Council and the European Political Community Summit, Christodoulides highlighted Cyprus’s priorities on defence and security.
He welcomed progress made under previous EU presidencies, stressing that Cyprus, during its own presidency, would push even harder to strengthen EU action. At national level, he said the goal remains to boost the deterrent capacity of the Republic, making use of the SAFE instrument – which allocates over €1 billion for Cyprus – as well as partnerships with allies such as the United States.
Christodoulides added that Cyprus aims to strengthen its own promising defence industry, noting that future arms purchases will require at least 15% participation from Cypriot defence companies.
He outlined three key points raised by Cyprus in the discussions:
- SAFE defence fund Cyprus resources should not go to states that violate EU sovereignty.
- EU-NATO cooperation must move forward without restrictions on the 27 EU member states.
- The EU must adopt a “360-degree view,” not only focusing on Ukraine but also on other regions such as the Middle East. He specifically referred to efforts to strengthen the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the naval base at Mari.
The President also noted recent discussions with the head of the European Investment Bank, which has now included defence and security projects in its financing priorities, and with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was briefed on the Cyprus problem. Christodoulides stressed again that if Turkey wishes to benefit from the SAFE instrument, it must first show tangible positive steps on Cyprus.
Later today, Christodoulides will meet with the leaders of Ukraine, Moldova and other states to discuss how their relations with the EU can be advanced during Cyprus’s presidency.
Also read: Cyprus defence companies increased tenfold
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