Greek Member of the European Parliament Nikolas Farantouris has formally called on the European Commission to provide clear answers regarding the European Union’s stance on Greece and Cyprus within its eastern borders strategy.
Farantouris, who serves on the European Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, submitted a written question asking the Commission to reconsider its position that the EU’s “eastern borders” are limited to continental Europe and primarily concern threats from Russia, rather than Turkey’s actions toward Greece and Cyprus.
Concerns Over EU Eastern Borders Strategy
The intervention follows the Commission’s announcement of a “New Strategy to Support the Union’s Eastern Borders,” which focuses on risks stemming from Russia.
According to Farantouris, the EU must acknowledge that its eastern borders extend to Greece and Cyprus. He also argues that European security is affected by Turkey’s longstanding threat of war against Greece, its military presence in Cyprus, and what he described as aggressive or revisionist actions, including the obstruction of strategic EU-linked projects such as the EastMed energy initiative, undersea electricity interconnection plans, and hydrocarbon exploration activities.
Three Key Questions
In his formal submission, Farantouris asked the Commission:
- Whether Greece and Cyprus will be explicitly included in the scope of the eastern borders strategy.
- Whether Turkey’s actions are recognized as a destabilizing factor for European security along the eastern borders.
- What concrete measures the EU intends to take to strengthen resilience and protection across all eastern European borders.
Call for EU Support
Speaking from Brussels, Farantouris called for stronger EU backing in response to what he described as unacceptable and aggressive statements by the Turkish government concerning research activities and the exploitation of mineral and other resources within areas under Greek sovereignty.
