Cypriot MEPs demand EU action against Turkey over hybrid threats

During a plenary session in Strasbourg held on September 15-16, 2026, Cypriot members of the European Parliament raised concerns regarding Turkey’s influence in the eastern Mediterranean. MEPs Costas Mavrides (Diko) and Geadis Geadi (Elam) characterized Turkish actions as "hybrid attacks," citing cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage, and the instrumentalization of migration. They criticized the European Union for focusing on Russian hybrid threats while allegedly ignoring those originating from the Erdogan regime, accusing EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas of failing to address these regional security concerns.

Following the State of the European Union address, MEP Loucas Fourlas (Disy) questioned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on whether EU defensive commitments apply to Cyprus. Specifically, Fourlas demanded to know if potential Turkish aggression would trigger Article 42.7, the mutual defense clause of the Lisbon Treaty. The legislators argued that Cyprus is not seeking special treatment but rather the consistent application of EU defensive guarantees. No formal response from the Commission has been documented regarding the invocation of this clause in the context of Mediterranean security.