Turkish Cypriot administration criticizes EU committee's 2027 budget proposal

The Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry issued a statement on September 4, 2026, condemning a recommendation made by the European Parliament’s Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. The committee proposed allocating funds within the 2027 European Union budget for the construction of a monument that the Turkish Cypriot side claims is intended to slander the Turkish armed forces.

In its formal response, the Turkish Cypriot administration characterized the European Parliament's proposal as an unethical attempt to distort historical events. The administration labeled the move a one-sided, non-constructive action by the Greek Cypriot side, asserting that the 1974 military intervention was a "peace operation" that established stability on the island. They maintain that the proposed funding is invalid and represents a campaign of defamation.

Turkish Cypriot authorities have called upon the European Parliament and relevant EU institutions to cease providing a platform for what they describe as manipulative propaganda. This development highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions regarding the historical narrative of the Cyprus dispute and the role of EU funding in contested memorial projects.