Strasbourg: Members of the European Parliament, who gather in Strasbourg this week for a plenary which includes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address, Gaza and Ukraine, will also discuss the illegal detention of five Greek Cypriots in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the European Parliament’s website indicates that it will hold “urgent debates” on human rights, democracy, and rule of law topics on Wednesday afternoon, followed by votes on Thursday, concerning the detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The discussions will also cover the case of Victoire Ingabire in Rwanda and the case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Five Greek Cypriots were ‘arrested’ on July 19 in the Turkish-occupied village of Trikomo, in the northern part of Cyprus, while visiting their properties. They were charged by the ‘authorities’ of the illegal regime with ‘illegal entry’ and other charges. They continue to be illegally detained and subjected to ‘court sessions’, while some have been reported to suffer from health issues. The Cyprus government has condemned the arrests, calling for the immediate release of the five, while a European Commission spokesperson stated that the EU does not recognize the self-proclaimed state in the northern part of Cyprus and its so-called judicial system.
On Monday, MEPs will discuss facilitating the financing of investments and reforms to boost European competitiveness and creating a Capital Markets Union. They will also debate topics such as circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles, as well as governance of the Internet.
On Tuesday, EU action to ensure security guarantees and just peace for Ukraine, to combat famine in Gaza, the urgent need to release hostages and move towards a two-state solution will be discussed. The agenda includes the devastating wildfires in Southern Europe and the current housing crisis. On the same day, Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, will address the Plenary.
On Wednesday, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will deliver her State of the Union speech before the MEPs, who will vote on issues such as securities settlement in the EU and EU-Switzerland Cooperation Agreement, among others. On the same day, the MEPs will hold debates on migration and EU-US trade deal, while they will also discuss cases of breaches of human rights, including the detention of EU citizens in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus. The Council will also present its position on the draft general budget for the 2026 financial year.
On Thursday, MEPs will discuss the provision of adequate housing and health policies to address record-breaking temperatures, while they will vote on Gaza and the detention of EU citizens in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.