EditCyprus secures key win on excluding Turkey from defence fund, promotes Gaza plan
On the cusp of Cyprus's EU presidency, Christodoulides outlined Nicosia's vision to transform the "Mediterranean Pact" into "concrete actions" for the wider region
President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus announced several diplomatic successes during his arrival at the European Council meeting in Brussels, including the adoption of Cyprus’s position to bar occupier states from the EU’s Security and Defence Fund for Europe (SAFE), the elevation of Nicosia’s Gaza humanitarian plan to a European initiative, and progress on sanctions and migration.
Blocking Turkey from EU defence funding
Cyprus’s firm stance against non-EU countries that occupy territory or threaten member states’ security has been formally adopted by the EU.
“I am pleased that our position on the participation of non-EU countries in the SAFE mechanism has been adopted,” Christodoulides stated, emphasizing that “no third country which occupies territory or threatens the security of member states can, under any circumstances, participate in or benefit from any EU financial instruments in the field of defence and security.”
This follows Nicosia’s submission of a specific note in response to Turkey’s intensified efforts to join SAFE, a bloc-wide security and defence funding tool. Several EU members, including Germany, had shown openness to Ankara’s involvement amid Ukraine-related security concerns.
However, strong early pushback from Cyprus and Greece prevented this, ensuring that entities like Turkey—accused of occupying northern Cyprus since 1974—remain excluded.
Christodoulides noted that this decision aligns with broader EU principles on territorial integrity and security.
Cyprus’s Gaza plan gains EU backing
Centerpiece for Cyprus’s is its six-point proposal for Gaza, which Christodoulideps described as a collaborative effort “prepared in consultation with the Commission President.” The plan, aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and reconstruction in the war-torn enclave, received a “very positive response” at a preceding meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP). He said he would present it in detail to all EU counterparts during the summit.
During a trilateral meeting involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Egypt, von der Leyen reframed the Cypriot initiative as a “European proposal.” This elevates the plan from a national suggestion to a bloc-wide strategy, tying it to the inaugural EU-Egypt Summit – the first of its kind, which Cyprus and Greece had long advocated for alongside other Mediterranean states.
Developed in early 2025 amid escalating Israeli-Hamas hostilities, Cyprus’s six-point framework focuses on immediate humanitarian relief and long-term stability. The points include: (1) Establishing a secure maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza for aid delivery, leveraging Larnaca Port as a hub; (2) Deploying EU-monitored floating piers or breakwaters to offload supplies directly onto Gaza’s coast, bypassing land border bottlenecks; (3) International oversight by the EU, UN, and neutral parties to ensure aid neutrality and prevent diversion; (4) Phased reconstruction funding tied to ceasefire compliance, including desalination plants and hospitals; (5) Integration with regional partners like Egypt and Jordan for logistics; and (6) A “Gaza Stability Fund” co-financed by the EU to support post-conflict governance.
Christodoulides stressed that implementation must combine this with “other existing initiatives” to operationalize the “Trump Gaza initiative”—a reference to U.S. President Donald Trump’s post-reelection proposals for a demilitarized Gaza under multinational administration, announced in September 2025. Without swift action, he warned, “one must understand the risks of a new crisis in the region and who will eventually suffer the consequences,” highlighting potential refugee surges and proxy escalations.
The plan builds on Cyprus’s geographic proximity and prior aid shipments to Gaza, positioning the island as a neutral bridge between Europe and the Middle East.
Sanctions, migration, and Ukraine support
On Russia, Christodoulides confirmed the adoption of the EU’s 19th sanctions package, calling existing measures “effective.” He alluded to their uneven application, stating, “If some countries that want to become members of the European Union were following the sanctions of the European Union, all decisions and the sanctions would be much more effective.”
This veiled critique targeted aspirant states like Turkey, which has flouted EU sanctions on Moscow by increasing trade.
Regarding recent U.S. energy sanctions on Russian entities (imposed October 22, 2025), EU leaders have proposed alternatives to replace disrupted supplies, ensuring Europe’s energy security.
On a rumored Trump-Putin meeting – now canceled by Trump – Christodoulides insisted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must participate, as “the future of his country cannot be discussed without his participation.
“Migration emerged as a linked priority, with Christodoulides urging the EU not to “ignore the broader Middle East, a region from which a significant number of migrants originate.” He tied this to the Gaza plan, warning of compounded flows if regional instability persists.
Cyprus EU Presidency: from words to action
With Cyprus’s EU Presidency set to begin in January 2026 – less than 70 days away – Christodoulides outlined Nicosia’s vision to transform the “Mediterranean Pact” into “concrete actions” for the wider region, demonstrating the EU’s “voice and role” there.
Key goals include bolstering strategic autonomy in defence, security, raw materials, anti-bureaucracy efforts, and the digital transition.
He also hailed the Council’s first-ever discussion on housing as a “major European challenge,” calling for a new Commission financial tool accessible to all member states. On the “occupied territories voting process”—a nod to Turkey’s planned municipal elections in northern Cyprus—Christodoulides said it wasn’t formally on the EPP agenda but was raised in bilaterals.
“We all understand that we will be judged at the negotiation table,” he concluded, reaffirming Cyprus’s commitment to UN-led reunification talks.
Edited by g.g.
Caption: Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, European Council – 23 October 2025. Copyright: European Union
Updated: October 23, 2025 - 16:25
