Nicosia: Turkey has excluded itself from participating in the European SAFE programme, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, on Saturday. He addressed this matter while speaking to journalists upon his arrival at the Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Building Contractors Association.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Christodoulides explained that participation of any third country in the programme necessitates a security agreement with the EU, along with the consent of its 27 member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. This requirement seems to be a significant factor in Turkey’s exclusion from the programme.
When asked about a European Commission spokesperson’s recent statement indicating that Turkey’s application for the SAFE programme is not progressing, Christodoulides was questioned on whether this is due to pressure from Greece, Cyprus, and other EU partners, or if it signifies a strategic shift by Turkey. He responded by reiterating that “Turkey has excluded itself” from joining the SAFE financial instrument of the European Union.
Christodoulides emphasized the necessity of a security agreement between any third country and the European Union, which requires the unanimous consent of the 27 EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. The lack of such an agreement appears to be the primary reason for Turkey’s non-participation in the programme.