AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou: Economic and geopolitical interests have pushed for a ‘positive agenda’
9th May 2021, ‘Haravgi’ newspaper
“In all the previous meetings, even when Turkish intransigence and provocations had reached their peak, with provocative actions in both the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus and in Famagusta, as well as in the Aegean sea and the Eastern Mediterranean region, Cyprus’ European partners were extremely sparing and made only verbal references stressing the need for Turkey to adapt to international law,” AKEL MEP George Georgiou pointed out.
The AKEL MEP explained that obvious economic and geopolitical interests were pushing certain powerful states to appease Turkey and incorporate the need for a ‘positive agenda’ in the decisions of the European Councils.
G.Georgiou added that during the last European Council, the positive agenda was formulated with specific references, including the upgrading of the EU-Turkey customs connection, the € 6 billion financial donation for the immigration issue, the resumption of high-level dialogues, but also a possible revision of the visa for Turkish citizens.
The AKEL MEP underlined that the EU’s inability to secure its presence in the Geneva talks demonstrates the difficulty it will have in implementing its decisions, when it was setting the need for Turkey to adapt to some European principles as a precondition for the development of a positive agenda in an irreversible way.
Referring to the forthcoming informal five-party meeting, G.Georgiou stressed that taking into account how it will take place after the Summit, there are growing concerns that the EU will deliver gifts to Erdogan, the a forerunner for the upgrading of the Customs Union, without demanding a change in Turkey’s behaviour.
