
Apostolos Syropoulos
41.2K posts

Apostolos Syropoulos
@asyropoulos
Computer scientist, amateur philosopher and no geeks please! Warning: I frequently leave out small words when typing any form of text.










The European Parliament's committee on defence and security voted Tuesday to exclude Turkey from participating in defence-related elements of the EU's next major research and innovation program, Horizon Europe 2028-2034. The amendment was put forward by Cypriot MEP Costas Mavrides and passed by a wide margin, with 29 votes in favour, five against, and one abstention. The vote marks a significant step toward formally locking Turkey out of EU defence cooperation. Horizon Europe is the EU's largest research and innovation funding framework, and its upcoming 2028-2034 phase is notable because it will, for the first time, include defence as an eligible priority. Mavrides argued that participation in those sensitive defence areas must be limited to countries aligned with EU values, international law, and good-neighbourly relations. Mavrides was direct about the target of his amendment, saying explicitly that the revised text excludes Turkey and that countries considered hostile to the EU or its member states have no place in a future European defence framework. He framed it as a matter of principle: states that act against EU interests simply cannot be allowed inside a European defence union. Turkey is a NATO ally but has been at odds with EU members for years over Cyprus, Aegean disputes, drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and its failure to meet conditions for EU accession. The committee vote now moves the proposal forward in the broader legislative process for the next Horizon Europe framework. #Cyprus #EUDefence #Turkey #TheAtlasWireGreece





























