Cypriot MEPs Loucas Fourlas and Giorgos Georgiou have called on the European Commission to intervene decisively in the ongoing detention of two Greek Cypriots in Trikomo, arguing that the EU is demonstrating a troubling double standard when it comes to the territorial integrity of its own member states.
Speaking in the European Parliament’s plenary ahead of the December European Council, Fourlas, an MEP with DISY and the EPP, criticised what he described as the Union’s “dangerous selective sensitivity.” While Brussels rightly defends the territorial integrity of third countries such as Ukraine, he said, it overlooks the fact that “one of its own member states, the Republic of Cyprus, has been under Turkish occupation for almost five decades.”
Fourlas stressed that Turkey has been holding two Greek Cypriots in the occupied territories for five months in retaliation for their conviction in a case involving the unlawful use of property. He reminded the plenary that in September the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding their immediate release. “No compliance from Turkey,” he noted.
A parallel written question was submitted to the Commission by AKEL and Left group MEP Giorgos Georgiou, who likewise pressed for urgent EU engagement. Georgiou highlighted that despite repeated interventions and a formal resolution by the Parliament, the two detainees continue to face arbitrary restrictive measures under the pretext of alleged personal data violations.
He emphasised that both men suffer from documented health issues and remain effectively trapped in the occupied areas, without freedom of movement and without guaranteed access to appropriate medical care. Georgiou described the situation as particularly serious given its political character and the vulnerability of those involved.
Both MEPs argued that the Commission has a clear responsibility to act, not only on legal grounds but to uphold the EU’s credibility on human rights and the rule of law within its own member states.