Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou explained the reasons why he voted against the European Parliament’s report on Turkey, stating among other things that he disagrees with the prospect of strengthening EU-Turkey relations as long as the Cyprus Issue remains unresolved. Noting that most other MEPs chose to abstain, he stressed that abstention is not always a solution and that taking a clear position is often preferable.
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Fidias Panayiotou: Why he voted against the European Parliament’s report on Turkey
In detail, describing his stance on the report, Fidias Panayiotou used a vivid analogy, saying it reminded him of a married woman who “goes with other men and lies to you,” yet there is still a desire to keep the marriage going.
Panayiotou argued that deepening cooperation with Turkey is not justified without any tangible progress on the Cyprus Issue. He also pointed out that the European Union has imposed 20 rounds of sanctions on Russia over its invasion, while in Turkey’s case, the EU is actively seeking to expand cooperation. He described this as a clear case of “double standards,” and said it was ultimately what led him to vote against the report.
The Cypriot MEP acknowledged that the report contains many positive elements and condemns Turkey on a range of issues. However, he took issue with the section that, as he noted, calls for strengthening relations with Ankara. For this reason, he explained, he could neither vote in favor nor choose to abstain.
In closing, Fidias Panayiotou emphasized that he wants the Cyprus Issue to be directly linked to EU-Turkey relations, arguing that only after its resolution can a genuine discussion about deeper cooperation with Turkey begin.
@fidiaspanayiotou Why I voted against the report on Turkey
