Limassol: A mechanism outlining the actions to be taken by the European Union when a member state decides to activate Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union must be established, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday. Speaking at Limassol Conscript Training Centre and responding to questions by the press about his intention to raise the issue at the upcoming informal EU Summit, the President stressed the need for a clear and specific framework governing the EU's response when the article is activated.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted the immediate response from several EU member states, including Greece, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, even without the formal activation of Article 42.7. This response followed his briefing at the last European Council meeting, where it was agreed at the level of the 27 leaders, as well as with the President of the Council and the President of the Commission, that a specific mechanism must define the EU's actions when this article is activated.
He noted that Article 42.7 has been activated only once, by France, following a terrorist attack. The European Commission has been tasked with preparing specific steps outlining the procedure in such cases. This initiative aligns with the objective of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union to create a more autonomous EU. President Christodoulides emphasized the tangible solidarity shown by the EU, with partners arriving to strengthen Cyprus's defense capabilities, even without activating Article 42.7. He added that further discussions are needed to determine the steps following the activation of the article.
The President confirmed the existence of specific proposals and mentioned that the Commission has been assigned to prepare a draft for discussion, aiming to reach concrete decisions on how the EU should operate when the article is activated.
Referring to his scheduled meeting later in the day with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, President Christodoulides stated that it is not a formal or procedural meeting. He expressed a strong political will to achieve results, building on discussions with the UN Secretary-General in Brussels concerning the substance of the Cyprus problem. The President expressed hope for progress, stating that the outcome depends both on him and on Turkey's stance.
When asked about his optimism, President Christodoulides acknowledged the challenges and difficulties in the Cyprus issue but noted that progress has been made. He emphasized the importance of remaining optimistic and acting to turn that optimism into concrete results.
In the early hours of March 2, a Shahed-type drone struck military facilities in the British Bases hosted in Akrotiri, in the southern tip of Cyprus, causing minor damage amid regional turmoil following US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle, believed to be linked to Hezbollah operating in Lebanon, prompted heightened security measures. Several countries, including Greece and France, announced the deployment of warships, aircraft, and other air defense assets to shield Cyprus. The UK also dispatched a warship. Nicosia has reiterated on several occasions that it has no involvement in the wider Middle East conflict.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.