Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001529/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
There have been reports that a large number of property transactions have been carried out along Greece’s border with Türkiye by Turkish-controlled companies or European citizens of Turkish origin[1].
Local government representatives have even made direct reference to a Muslim colonisation of Evros[2].
At the same time, it is well known that Article 63 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits all restrictions on the movement of capital between EU Member States and between Member States and non-EU countries, ‘unless they are necessary for legitimate public interests’.
It is therefore necessary to define the scope of the concept of ‘public interests’ in cases such as the above.
In view of the above, can the Commission answer the following:
- 1.Does it regard the endangerment of national sovereignty as a legal ground for restricting the application of Article 63 TFEU, in order to restrict the ability of EU citizens or EU companies serving the interests of non-EU countries to purchase property in border areas?
- 2.Can Member States restrict property transactions carried out by EU citizens or EU companies serving the interests of non-EU countries in the border regions of Member States when these pose a threat to their sovereignty?
Submitted: 14.4.2025