Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEP Loucas Fourlas criticized EU hypocrisy on Cyprus, condemning double standards, Turkish occupation, and lack of solidarity or action.
Cypriot MEP Loucas Fourlas launched a harsh attack on the European Union’s “hypocrisy” on the Cyprus issue. Speaking to a European Parliament session which concentrated on the Cyprus problem, Fourlas, who belongs to Disy, stated, “The European Union’s stance on the Cyprus problem is a monument to hypocrisy.”
How does Louis Fourlas view Europe’s stance on Cyprus?
MEP expressed that “Europe shows every day that it applies double standards and turns a blind eye to the continued Turkish occupation.” He added, “Europe has failed to live up to its history, to protect its borders, and to protect its members. Solidarity is not a slogan, it is an action. 41 years is too long, it is time for this hypocrisy to end,” he stated, referring to the 41 years since the North unilaterally declared independence in 1983.
At the same time, MEP Michalis Hadjipantela was also much of the same opinion, asking, “Why is the violation of international law in Ukraine causing a reaction while there is silence about Cyprus? Why have our displaced people not received compensation from European funds?”
How does the EU address violations of Cyprus’s territorial integrity?
The MEPs’ backlash came after the European Commission Vice President for protecting the European way of life Margaritis Schinas had briefed the European Parliament on the matter.
He stated that “those who are still expressing that some kind of settlement can be reached through two states have probably not spoken to anyone in Europe. Whoever they speak to in Europe, they will find that this has no basis anywhere, neither politically, not in the community, nor economically, nor legally.”
To this end, he expressed that the European Commission’s position on the issue is “clear and consistent. We recognise the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate government of Cyprus and condemn any violation of its territorial integrity,” he stated, adding that the European Union has “repeatedly expressed its solidarity to the Republic of Cyprus” and “remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement”.
