Cyprus reports Turkey to the European Union over illegal gas pipeline deal

Cyprus has formally raised the issue of an illegal memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the self-proclaimed entity in the occupied territories of Cyprus regarding the construction of a subsea natural gas pipeline. Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos addressed the matter during his attendance at the European Union Council meetings in Brussels. Kombos characterized the agreement as a clear violation of international law and the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.

During his address, the Minister highlighted a wider pattern of Turkish provocations, noting that 659 airspace violations and incursions into the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone were recorded and reported to the United Nations between July and August alone. Kombos emphasized that Turkey’s alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy remains at only four percent, undermining its status as a candidate country. He urged Ankara to view the path toward European integration as an opportunity rather than an entitlement.

The Foreign Minister’s actions are part of a broader diplomatic effort to pressure Turkey regarding its ongoing regional activities. While the EU Council agenda also included discussions on Russian aggression in Ukraine, regional tensions in the Middle East, and the strategic importance of EU enlargement, the focus on the Cyprus issue underscores the ongoing friction between Nicosia and Ankara.