Cyprus MEPs Refuse to Back EU Türkiye Report Despite Ankara Criticism
By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
None of Cyprus’ six members of the European Parliament backed the chamber’s latest Türkiye report in a June 17 vote, even though the text criticised Ankara over Cyprus, Varosha, Turkish troops and its support for a two-state settlement.
The report passed in Strasbourg with 381 votes in favour, 107 against and 171 abstentions. Cyprus' delegation stayed outside the main parliamentary majority, with Loucas Fourlas, Michalis Hadjipantela, Costas Mavrides, Geadis Geadi and Giorgos Georgiou abstaining, while Fidias Panayiotou voted against.
The text was already critical of Ankara. The European Parliament report described Türkiye as a strategically important actor for the European Union, but also said Ankara's accession process remained at a standstill and raised concerns over democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights and foreign-policy disputes.
On Cyprus, the report rejected a two-state settlement, backed a bizonal, bicommunal federation under the United Nations framework and repeated criticism of Türkiye's military presence on the island. It also referred to Varosha, the United Nations buffer zone, missing persons, property rights and the political role of the Turkish Cypriot community.
Their objections centred on the report's EU-Türkiye engagement language rather than the absence of Cyprus references. Cypriot MEPs objected to parts of the text that kept Türkiye inside EU cooperation language, including security, defence, Customs Union modernisation, High-Level Dialogue channels and regional files where Brussels still treats Ankara as a necessary interlocutor.
Fourlas said several of his amendments had entered the final text, but that he abstained because the report still left space for upgrading EU-Türkiye relations. Hadjipantela also pointed to strong Cyprus-related language while objecting to the lack of a clearer link between Ankara's Cyprus obligations and the future of EU-Türkiye ties.
Mavrides said the report included positive references on Turkish troop withdrawal, settlement activity, Greek Cypriot property and European court rulings, but criticised language on Türkiye's role in European defence, trade and dialogue with the bloc. Geadi and Georgiou also pointed to Cyprus-related gains in the text while refusing to endorse its wider EU-Türkiye language.
Panayiotou's rejection pushed the Cyprus line further. He said abstention was not enough while the Cyprus issue remained unresolved and argued against strengthening EU-Türkiye relations under the report's current language.
The result cut across European party groups. Cyprus' MEPs did not share the same ideological position, but none was prepared to endorse a report that criticised Ankara and still preserved channels for EU-Türkiye engagement.
The Turkish Cypriot side also rejected the report, objecting to its federation language, its references to Turkish Cypriots as a community and its criticism of Turkish positions on the island.
The report therefore drew objections from both sides of the island for opposite reasons. Greek Cypriot MEPs rejected its space for EU-Türkiye engagement; the Turkish Cypriot side rejected its reliance on United Nations parameters and Republic of Cyprus positions.
Sources: Cyprus Mail, Politis, Philenews, Reporter, HowTheyVote, European Parliament, Bosphorus News review and reporting.