From the beginning, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had expressed his satisfaction with the conclusions, in which it is recognized how Euro-Turkish relations can progress, however Ankara will be constantly evaluated for its attitude and nothing will be taken for granted.
Today, on the second day of the Summit, the “27” will discuss the crucial issue of the competitiveness of the European economy in a period where the challenges are complex and vigilance and coordination are required.
The Prime Minister is expected to repeat that the functioning of the single market must be modernized and adapted to the needs of the times.
Giving the stamp of his intentions yesterday, he said that these issues are absolutely critical for the next five years, the next European cycle, which will open following the elections, given that the competitiveness of Europe is ultimately linked to the improvement of the standard of living of all Europeans citizens, something to which Greece – as he noted – attaches extremely great importance.
Penalties concerning the program of unmanned aircraft and missiles will be in the text of the conclusions of Summit, it is also possible that there will be sanctions once morest persons and entities, as reported by ERT regarding the extraordinary EU Summit. and the decision by European leaders to impose sanctions on Iran.
What does the Conclusions text say?
Any new development on the conclusions is not expected today, Thursday, but the message is clear, that the EU is determined to impose sanctions once morest Tehran. As the correspondent of ERT on Brussels notes, “we are not expecting any development today, that is, something very specific. The message had to be sent, as Charles Michel said following yesterday’s meeting. The message is that the European Union is determined and is imposing sanctions once morest Tehran. They clearly condemned the attacks, the Iranian attacks once morest Israel, and call on all sides to exercise restraint so that there is no escalation and things get worse.”
Regarding the Turkey“everything depends on Turkey’s constructive attitude, so if Turkey shows that it is in favor of keeping a constructive attitude, there can be a positive agenda, always in a proportional, gradual and reversible way.”
As for the report on the Cypriot, “it is emphasized that the European Union will have an active role, always based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council, at all stages”. For his part, the president of Cyprus, upon his arrival, on the second day of the Summit, expressed his satisfaction with the results of the strategic discussion on Turkey.
“From the beginning we set a goal, the essential interconnection of the Euro-Turkish and Cypriot states. This is clear from yesterday’s conclusions and the discussion that took place,” he said. As he added, “consciously” a positive message was sent to Turkey, that the transformation of this message into specific positive developments in Euro-Turkish depends on progress in the Cyprus issue.
Furthermore, the president of Cyprus spoke of a very important moment, “taking into account the efforts being made by the Secretary General of the UN to restart the talks”.
The results of the strategic discussion held on Turkey during the Summit met with the satisfaction of the president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, as he expressed upon his arrival, on the second day of the Summit in Brussels.
“From the beginning we set a goal, the essential interconnection of the Euro-Turkish and Cypriot states. This is clear from yesterday’s conclusions and the discussion that took place,” he said. As he added, “consciously” a positive message was sent to Turkey, that the transformation of this message into specific positive developments in Euro-Turkish depends on progress in the Cyprus issue.
Furthermore, the president of Cyprus spoke of a very important moment, “taking into account the efforts made by the General Secretary of UN for the resumption of talks”.
In addition, Christodoulidis thanked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Council President Charles Michel and the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, “who clarified through their interventions this connection, who recognized the constructive role of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia and the need at this moment for Turkey, if it wishes this positive message, I repeat to transform in specific positive actions, to advance those steps that are needed in the Cyprus issue”.
The anger of Ankara was caused by the results of the strategic discussion on Turkey at the special Summit, as its accession is once once more directly linked to progress in the Cyprus conflict.
“The connection of the Cypriot issue with progress in Turkey-EU relations will never be accepted by us. The approach that limits the multifaceted relations between Turkey and the EU in the Cyprus issue must be abandoned,” declares the Turkish government.
“Such a mentality cannot contribute positively and constructively to the Cyprus issue or to other regional and global issues,” the announcement states.
Turkey says it rejects “the selective limitation of its cooperation with the EU in certain areas” which is seen as a tip-off on immigration.
The announcement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry in detail:
“The decisions regarding our country taken at the Special Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union (EU) held in Brussels on April 7-18, 2024 are a new example of the EU’s lack of strategic vision for our country and global developments.
The connection of the Cypriot issue with progress in Turkey-EU relations will never be accepted by us. The approach that limits the multifaceted relations between Turkey and the EU in the Cyprus issue must be abandoned. Such a mentality cannot contribute positively and constructively to the Cyprus issue or to other regional and global issues.
As a candidate country, Turkey remains determined to join the EU. However, we reject the selective limitation of our cooperation in certain areas. We will discuss our dialogue with the EU in the context of reciprocity, depending on the speed, level and scope of the EU’s steps towards Turkey in the next period.”
In her reactions Turkey in the declaration of establishment of two marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean, the government representative replied, stating that “it has to do with purely environmental purposes, our position for continuing the dialogue is a given, but also that we are not retreating from our sovereign rights”.
In particular, Mr. Marinakis added “it is also self-evident and we have proven it throughout our history that Greece deeply believes in resolving disputes, the one dispute in this case, the determination of EEZ and continental shelf, we still have a long way to go, based on international law of the sea. So I repeat that all these actions, all these movements are aimed at protecting the environment and of course Greece is a sovereign country, it does not give in to its sovereign rights and in relation to the neighboring country we continue to believe in the continuation of the dialogue” .
Responding to the criticism of the choice of Fredis Beleris to be included in the ND’s European ballot, Mr. Marinakis said that “the prime minister did not remember the diaspora now, our attitude throughout time shows a consistency. The ballot still has 41 worthy candidates and it is good that the confrontation is not limited to this toxic way.”
Referring to Mr. Androulakis’ criticism of the same issue and reports of vote-hunting, the government spokesman said that “Have you ever seen a political leader put a sitting MEP of another party on the ballot and tell us if this is not in vote-hunting terms” .
Pavlos Marinakis’ introductory statement in detail:
The Prime Minister met in the morning in Brussels with the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and they discussed the issues of the Summit and the upcoming European elections.
It is recalled that Mr. Mitsotakis and Tusk were the ones who signed on behalf of the EPP the candidacy of Ursula von der Leyen for the presidency of the European Commission, while Ms. Metsola plays a key role in the pre-election campaign of the European center-right.
Foreign relations, with the latest developments in the Middle East following Iran’s attacks once morest Israel, Ukraine, European Union-Turkey relations, and questions regarding the competitiveness of the European economy dominate the special meeting of the European Council, in which the Prime Minister.
In his statements regarding the developments in the Middle East, Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his unequivocal condemnation of the attack on Israel by Iran and pointed out that this condemnation is accompanied by “the exhortation of all the members of the European Council to do everything possible hand in order for this crisis to defuse, not to expand and not to acquire the characteristics of a regional conflict”, as he characteristically said.
He referred to the situation in Lebanon which directly affects Cyprus as well, as we have seen significant refugee flows from Lebanon to Cyprus. The Prime Minister emphasized: “We support the effort of the Republic of Cyprus, so that these flows can be stopped, but at the same time we can also provide Lebanon with the much needed support, so that this country that has been through a lot can finally stabilize.”
In addition, referring to the issue of Turkey, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated: “in complete agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, I express my satisfaction for the fact that there is an explicit reference that links the progress of Euro-Turkish relations with the progress that can be made on the Cyprus issue. With explicit references to the decisions of the Security Council, which determine the only framework on the basis of which the Cyprus issue can be resolved. And of course expressing our expectation that this new effort which is being made, under the new envoy of the United Nations Organization, will be able to finally bear fruit”.
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