The exclusion of Turkey from European defense programs and the related funding, as long as it continues to challenge the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus, maintains the casus belli against our Country as well as the illegal occupation of Cypriot territory, is requested by the Vice President of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) and PASOK MEP G. Maniatis.
With a package of 32 amendments to the draft annual report of the European Parliament on the implementation of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, he proposes specific guarantees for the protection of member states and their critical energy infrastructure.
This specific intervention makes respect for international law, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all member states a basic prerequisite for the participation of third countries in the European security architecture and defense. Specifically regarding Turkey, G. Maniatis asks for it to be explicitly stated that the continuation of threats and violations against Greece and Cyprus is incompatible with its participation in European defense initiatives.
At the same time, he proposes the exclusion from EU funding of entities from third countries that threaten the security and defense interests of the Union or its member states. He also calls for strict implementation of European rules on arms exports, the cessation of any export of military equipment that could be used against another member state, and strengthened mechanisms for monitoring compliance and sanctions. Particular emphasis is placed on the protection of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The amendments call on the EU to show the same degree of attention to violations of the airspace, territorial waters and sovereign rights of member states in all regions of the Union. They also propose that military mobility corridors cover the entire European territory, with special provision for the southern and southeastern flank and island regions.
The PASOK MEP highlights energy security as an integral part of European defense, calling for enhanced protection of submarine cables, pipelines, liquefied natural gas infrastructure and electric interconnections, with special reference to the Great Sea Interconnector between Greece and Cyprus. He also proposes an explicit condemnation of the Turkey-Libya memorandum, reiterating the European position that it violates sovereign rights, is not consistent with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce legal consequences for third states.
In the field of maritime security, the Vice President of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) calls for the significant strengthening of Operation “Aspides” in the Red Sea, for the protection of commercial ships from Houthi attacks. At the same time, he supports the extension of the mandate of Operation “Eirini” (IRINI) in the Mediterranean.
The package also includes proposals for the operational strengthening of European defense, with clear procedures for the implementation of the mutual assistance clause of Article 42 paragraph 7 of the Treaty on European Union, upgrading the European capacity for planning and command of operations, as well as joint intelligence and cyber defense capabilities. Finally, in the field of the defense industry, equal participation of businesses from all member states, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, joint procurement and linking funding with quality jobs and social cohesion are requested.