Cypriot MEPs criticize Von der Leyen for omitting Cyprus from State of the Union address

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union address. The speech, which lasted approximately one hour, covered various European priorities including security, defense, climate change, migration, and the war in Ukraine. However, it notably failed to mention the ongoing Cyprus issue or the Turkish occupation of the island.

Cypriot Members of the European Parliament, including Loukas Fourlas and Geadis Geadi, strongly criticized the omission, arguing that it reflects a failure to adequately address the sovereignty and security concerns of a member state. Critics specifically highlighted that the European Union failed to acknowledge the unique challenges facing Cyprus, including its position as the only member state to have suffered a direct attack from Hezbollah, which occurred in March 2026. Legislators asserted that the lack of reference to these issues undermines the EU’s commitment to its own member states amid regional instability.

While the speech was praised by other officials, such as the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, who noted alignment between the Commission’s priorities and the Irish Council Presidency, the backlash from Cypriot representatives highlights a growing rift regarding European external policy and the perceived neglect of Mediterranean security interests.