Cypriot MEPs accuse Turkey of hybrid attacks
Cypriot Members of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides and Geadis Geadi, during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, accused Turkey of carrying out “hybrid attacks” against Cyprus. The discussion took place amid debate over possible Russian hybrid attacks against other EU member states, Cyprus Mail reports.
Statements by the MEPs
Mavrides, who represents the Diko party, said that hybrid attacks against EU countries may include cyberattacks, sabotage of critical infrastructure, threats to undersea cables, drone incursions, and the use of migration flows as an instrument of pressure. He described Russian hybrid attacks as one of the main sources of a real threat.
At the same time, Mavrides argued that “Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman regime” has for years been carrying out hybrid attacks against EU states in the eastern Mediterranean. He also said that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas does not speak about this problem. In the MEP’s view, such an approach is a manifestation of hypocrisy, weakens the EU and contributes to the rise of far-right forces.
Article on mutual defence
Both MEPs called on the EU to define a clear mechanism for applying Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, which contains a mutual-defence provision. Mavrides said this mechanism should be made effective, while Geadi stressed the need to ensure its immediate and effective application.
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Geadi, a representative of the Elam party, described hybrid warfare as the use of non-military means to destabilize, coerce and undermine a state's sovereignty. Among such tools, he named cyberattacks, propaganda, manipulation of non-governmental organizations and the use of illegal migrants as a means of pressure.
He also criticized the leadership of the European Commission and Kaja Kallas for treating Turkey as a partner. Geadi claimed that Turkey is waging hybrid warfare against Cyprus and occupies European territory belonging to the Republic of Cyprus.
Previous use of the article
In April, the leaders of the 27 EU states at the European Council summit in Nicosia called for the creation of a defence roadmap. France activated Article 42.7 for the first and so far only time after a series of terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015.
