The Republic of Cyprus position on the SAFE (Security and Defence Fund for Europe) mechanism has been adopted, President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed on his arrival at a European Council meeting in Brussels.
“I am pleased that our position on the participation of non-EU countries in the SAFE mechanism has been adopted,” he said, making clear 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.”
Turkey had been intensifying attempts to join the SAFE mechanism and a number of EU member states were not wholly negative to such an eventuality, including Germany, also given a number of Ukraine war security concerns.
Both Cyprus and Greece had reacted strongly and early to the possibility of Ankara having access to such a European fund.
Christodoulides also referred to the strategic importance of the first-ever EU-Egypt Summit, noting that “our country, along with Greece and a number of other Mediterranean states, has long supported the need for this strategic partnership.”
He added that this cooperation was first materialised with the 2024 visit of the European Commission President to Cairo, in which he also took part, and continued last night with the inaugural summit.