Nicosia:President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has reached out to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, advocating for the reintroduction of the EU's mutual assistance clause on the agenda. The appeal includes a request for updates on current proposals and future steps.

According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized the critical importance of this provision for the EU and its member states, especially during periods of geopolitical uncertainty. In a letter dated October 20, he highlighted Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which mandates member states to provide aid and assistance to any member state victimized by armed aggression.

The letter also references recent events, such as Iranian drone strikes on a British base in Cyprus, which led to the issue being prioritized during Cyprus's six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, ending on June 30. However, discussions on Article 42.7 have waned as the EU shifts focus to budget negotiations and additional funding for Ukraine.

POLITICO's report, as understood by CNA, indicates that Article 42.7 will not be on the agenda at upcoming EU leaders' summits. An unnamed EU official confirmed this to the outlet, suggesting that other pressing issues have diverted attention away from the mutual assistance clause.