On Tuesday 20 January, MEPs presented a united front to support the programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council and its priorities for EU autonomy, based on five pillars: autonomy through security, defence and preparedness; autonomy through competitiveness; openness to the world; a Union of values; and finally, a long-term budget.
Stressing that the challenges were considerable and interconnected, Costas Mavrides (S&D, Cypriot) felt that it was necessary to focus on the EU’s strategic autonomy.
“We need to focus on production autonomy, economic autonomy, housing autonomy with accessible housing, energy autonomy, defence autonomy, autonomy in all areas. This means an autonomous Europe that can make its own decisions and play a leading role in global developments”, added Geadis Geadi (ECR, Cypriot).
According to the co-president of the Greens/EFA group, Bas Eickhout (Dutch), with US President Donald Trump’s actions, security and autonomy are well-chosen priorities and all the more urgent. “The EU must act decisively and precisely”. He added that resources are needed to address defence, digital issues and the economy, calling for European alternatives.
On behalf of Renew Europe, Dan Barna (Romanian) felt that security, competitiveness and strategic autonomy would only be achieved with EU enlargement, “one of the EU’s most transformative and geostrategic instruments”.
Many MEPs stressed the importance of strengthening European competitiveness, including by reducing administrative burdens, especially given the Commission’s numerous proposals to simplify regulations. The chairman of European Parliament’s EPP group, Manfred Weber (German), recalled Cyprus’s successes, particularly in economic terms, with growth of 3% by 2025, but also regarding migration, as arrivals on the island have been reduced by more than 80%.
Although foreign affairs is not a direct responsibility of the EU Council Presidencies, several MEPs stressed Cyprus’ geographical importance. “Cyprus is a gateway between the EU and the Middle East, and the rest of the world”, Costas Mavrides emphasised. Closer ties between the EU and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries are a priority for the Presidency.
MEPs also reiterated their support for the reunification of Cyprus, the northern part of which has been occupied by Turkey for over 50 years. “The Cyprus question is a European question. Europe will not be fully united without a fully reunited Cyprus”, said Mr Weber. Geadis Geadi felt that “it is shameful for Europe to worry about others (Ukraine, Iran, etc.) but not about its own children. (...) The freedom of Cyprus is our collective duty”.
See the speech by the president of Cyprus: https://aeur.eu/f/kib (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)