Cypriot MEPs to abstain from European Parliament vote on Turkey progress report

The European Parliament is set to vote on Wednesday on the annual progress report for Turkey, authored by Spanish MEP Nacho Sanchez Amor. While the report is generally acknowledged as an improvement over previous years regarding references to the Cyprus issue, the rule of law, and regional stability, Cypriot MEPs remain critical. Multiple representatives, including Loukas Fourlas, Costas Mavrides, and Giorgos Georgiou, have announced they will abstain from the vote. The MEPs expressed support for positive inclusions in the text, such as calls for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and respect for the Republic of Cyprus's sovereignty. However, they raised objections to clauses labeling Turkey as a strategic partner and the perceived lack of strict requirements for upgrading the EU-Turkey Customs Union. The report also addresses issues such as missing persons, Turkish interference in the buffer zone, and the rejection of a two-state solution. Other Cypriot MEPs, such as Geadis Geadis and Fidias Panayiotou, have not yet clarified their final voting intentions.