On # the detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus TXTTITLE@TITLE@#

B100396/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus

(2025/2860(RSP))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Protocol No 10 to the Act of Accession of Cyprus to the European Union (2003), which recognises that the whole of Cyprus has acceded to the EU,

— having regard to the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005 (counter-declaration) in response to the unilateral declaration made by Turkey upon signing the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, confirming that the Republic of Cyprus is a full Member State of the EU and that Turkey should recognise this,

— having regard to the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984),

— having regard to Articles 2 and 21 of the TEU, which commit the Union to upholding the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for international law in its external action,

A. Considering that on 19 July 2025 five Greek Cypriot citizens, refugees from occupied Trikomo and EU citizens, were arrested by the Turkish illegal occupation authorities after crossing the Strovilia checkpoint; that they have since remained in arbitrary detention under the control of an unrecognized

entity; that their health has deteriorated and they have not been provided with appropriate care;

B. Considering that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has officially condemned these detentions, has lodged complaints with the United Nations and the European Union and is considering taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights; whereas the case has been referred to the EU Foreign Affairs Council;

C. Considering that civil society organisations, including the Cyprus Bar Association, have denounced the detentions as violations of fundamental rights, underlining the risks to the rule of law posed by the arbitrary arrest of EU citizens by an unrecognised regime;

1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal arrest and detention of the five Greek Cypriots and EU citizens by the occupation regime and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

2. Recalls that the Cyprus problem is primarily a matter of invasion, occupation and violation of international law and rejects any attempt to downgrade it;

3. Repeats its position that the separatist entity in the occupied northern part of the island has no international recognition;

4. Calls for the revision Green Line Regulation, taking into account recent violations, which clearly reveal its ineffectiveness. Stresses further that it should even consider its repeal;

5. Calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that Turkey is held accountable for violations of international law and EU principles;

6. Reiterates that the European Union has a moral and legal duty to support the Republic of Cyprus and its citizens, who are also EU citizens;

7. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council, the Commission, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the government and the parliament of the Republic of Cyprus;