AKEL opposes EU’s foreign affairs, defence and security policy

 

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 20th December 2015, Nicosia

 

On Friday, 19th December a meeting took place between a delegation of AKEL and the Minister of Defence Christophoros Fokaides concerning developments at an EU level on foreign affairs, defence and security issues.

The AKEL delegation, headed by the member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL and MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis, exchanged views with the Minister of Defence on developments in the region of the Middle East and Ukraine, but also on a wide range of issues including the military-civilian missions and operations of the European Union, NATO’s demand for increased military spending in budgets and the EU’s drive towards the military industry and research. The Minister of Defence informed the AKEL delegation about the government’s general approach on these issues, which also dictates its position in the EU Council of Ministers meetings.

On its part, AKEL pointed out that it has a radically different approach from that which prevails in the European Union in relation to the direction of the Union’s foreign policy, particularly with regards the handling of the developments in Ukraine. AKEL also reiterated its opposition to the ever deepening coupling between the EU and NATO, to the interventionism which the EU is developing through its military missions, as well as AKEL’s opposition to the increases in expenditure on armaments and the war industry, at a time when the people of Europe are subject to savage austerity policies. Furthermore, AKEL briefed the Minister on the position and initiatives undertaken by the Left Group in the European Parliament on foreign policy and defence issues.

Also participating in the AKEL Delegation were the Members of Parliament of the AKEL-Left-New Forces Parliamentary Group and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence Costas Costa and Christos Mesis, the Head of the International Relations and European Affairs Department of the C.C. AKEL Costas Christodoulides and the member of the Department Georgos Koukoumas.