Debate contributions by Emmanouil KEFALOGIANNIS

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the abolition of unanimity cannot be adopted in two cases: the revision of the Treaties and the admission of new members. For my country, Greece, as long as Turkey still has the casus belli on the table, that is, the threat of war against Greece, as long as Turkey continues to question Greece's sovereign rights and the sovereignty of the Greek islands through the theory of grey zones in the Aegean, Greece is not going to consent to Turkey joining the SAFE programme for European defence. As long as Turkey holds 40% of the Republic of Cyprus, a full member country of the European Union, as long as Turkey violates international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea with the pseudo-Turkish-Libyan memorandum, Greece will not accept the abolition of the veto on the admission of new members and the revision of the treaties.

Madam President, the Common Agricultural Policy is Europe's living history, its identity. It is the cornerstone of European integration. It guaranteed food security and the cohesion of the European Union. Its strength lies in its common character and not in national policies. For decades it has secured Europe's food supply chain and kept the countryside alive. The Common Agricultural Policy must not be weakened and merged with other European funds. We are in favour of a strong and well-funded Common Agricultural Policy. We call for simplification of procedures, reduction of bureaucracy, smart incentives for our farmers. The creation of a Just Transition Fund for our farmers is the solution for the new Common Agricultural Policy 2029-2034, a proposal which I had the honour to submit to the European Parliament and which was accepted by the European Commission in February 2024.

Mr President, the European Parliament's report reflects the fact that Turkey is on a dangerous path of authoritarianism. It violates the principles and values of the European Union and the European acquis in the rule of law, the functioning of democracy, good neighbourly relations. It has long violated international law and the decisions of the United Nations. It threatens with war – casus belli – member countries of the European Union – Greece and Cyprus. In the area of foreign policy and defence, Turkey's alignment rate with European Union countries is less than 5%. It often faces the European Union, as in the case of Ukraine, Libya, the Middle East, Syria, the Caucasus. Turkey has no place in the European defence architecture – the 150 billion EU funds to strengthen European defence and the 650 billion EU countries spend on the same purpose, in line with the decisions of the European Councils of December 2008 and October 2019 and the reports of the European Union and the European Parliament over time. With its report, the European Parliament sends a strong message of concern and concern to Turkey and its accession path.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Turkey is on a dangerous path of authoritarianism. The arrest of the elected mayor of Istanbul is yet another blow to democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. Since 2016, 150 mayors in Turkey have been deposed and replaced. Since March 2024 – a year ago – thirteen mayors have been deposed and replaced by mandated civil servants. All those who speak out against the government face persecution and imprisonment. Among them journalists, political opponents, minorities, activists. The European Union cannot be silent. It must send a clear message to Ankara. Ladies and gentlemen, in my capacity as President of the EU-Turkey Commission and with the agreement of the Bureau, we unanimously decided to postpone indefinitely the convening of the EU-Turkey Joint Interparliamentary Committee, which was due to meet in fifteen days, 14-16 April 2025. This committee brings together 50 European and Turkish parliamentarians. I congratulate the Commissioner on her decision not to participate in the Ankara Forum. Ladies and gentlemen, for the acceding countries of the European Union, including Turkey, democracy is not a carte blanche, it is not a Turk.

Madam President, in a changing world, the European Union is the guardian of the principles and values of democracy and human rights. To fulfil this important mission, Europe needs to provide answers and solutions to the problems of society within the European Union. To show that the European Union is not only capable at the level of declarations, but that it is strong in the economic, security and defence fields. The strength of democracy in the European Union should be understood and respected by friends and opponents. Ladies and gentlemen, Winston Churchill said that democracy is the worst form of government, but the best invented by the human mind. The time has come for decisions on Europe, the Europe of democracy and human rights.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen: European defence. We are living through the greatest crisis since the Second World War. Let's make this crisis an opportunity. Let's get back to where we left off 70 years ago. When we envision creating the European Defence Community, which the French National Assembly voted against in 1950, to create the Western European Union, an organisation that for 50 years has offered little to European defence and security. Ladies and gentlemen, let us strengthen defence and security, both at national level and with the 150 billion of the European budget. Our strength is a Europe of principles and values, a Europe of peace, a Europe of international law, a Europe of peaceful resolution of disputes. Our strength is the Europe of respect for the Charter of the United Nations. Thank you for your attention.

Mr President, 41 years on, the Europe of principles and values, the Europe of democracy, the Europe of peace have failed to solve a drama of a full member of the European Union – the Republic of Cyprus. 41 years ago, Turkey proclaimed the pseudo-state of Northern Cyprus. For 41 years now, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 of 1983 and 550 of 1984 condemned this illegal act and called on all Member States of the United Nations to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. Today, 41 years later, we are facing the same blatant, blatant violation of international law. 41 years later, Turkey, despite its obligations towards the European Union, persists in its refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus. For 50 years now, half of Cyprus has been under military occupation and remains mutilated. Ladies and gentlemen, our responsibilities are enormous for this ongoing untold tragedy of the Cypriot people.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the high intensity and frequency of forest fires pose a serious threat to Europe's natural heritage and economy. In 2023 alone, five million acres were destroyed by fires across Europe. In my country, Greece, the disasters are unprecedented. This situation requires an immediate and concrete response. The current European Union aerial fire brigade is not enough. We must take immediate action in this direction. The planned number of twelve new aircraft does not seem to be a timely solution to the current crisis. The European Commission should simplify the procedures for Europe to acquire these instruments, while ensuring that flight safety and transparency are respected.

Madam President, the Just Transition Fund is the first important milestone for green Europe. But for green farming we must not send the bill to European farmers. Our farmers were right about their mobilizations at the beginning of the year. I am pleased that the Commission, in the report requested by the European Commission on agriculture, has adopted the proposal to create an Agricultural Just Transition Fund, which I had the honour to propose to the European Parliament plenary in February 2024. To ensure a just transition for green agriculture, it is necessary to mobilise EU funds from the European Social Fund, the European Regional Fund, leverage funds from the European Investment Bank, national co-financing and the private sector. For the Just Transition Fund, the amounts were close to €100 billion. For the new Agricultural Just Transition Fund, the amounts should be close to EUR 50 billion.