Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000388/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)
The United Kingdom (UK) appears to be pursuing an institutional rapprochement with the EU. We must be the ones to define the negotiating framework.
The British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus were created in 1960 with the Zurich-London Agreements, for the independence of the Republic of Cyprus (RC), on the agreement that the UK would be a guarantor power for the RC, a role it completely failed to fulfil in 1974 when it ignored the illegal Turkish invasion. In contrast, the UK has used the SBAs for military operations in Iraq, Syria and Somalia, which is completely incompatible with its presence there. It does not even inform the Republic of Cyprus about these operations. At the same time, Türkiye often confirms its expansionist attitude towards the RC[1] and increases its military presence in the – illegally – occupied Cypriot territories.[2] In the debate on strengthening the EU’s European military role[3] there have been no references to the protection of the RC, despite the Turkish occupation/threat.
In view of the above, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy answer the following:
- 1.How many times and in what circumstances has she raised the issue of the withdrawal of British troops from Cyprus, in discussions with the UK?
- 2.Does she plan to call for the replacement of the British military presence in Cyprus with a European military force to defend the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus?
Submitted: 28.1.2025
- [1] https://gr.euronews.com/2024/03/19/proklitiki-anafora-erdogan-gia-tin-kypro-an-eixame-piesei-pros-ton-noto-kypros-diki-mas
- [2] https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/turkey-expands-military-presence-in-cyprus-with-bases-and-radar-installations/
- [3] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/europe%E2%80%99s-demosthenes-moment-putting-defence-centre-eu-policies_en