What Costas spoke about.

16

Dec

2025

EN Speech

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Phasing out Russian natural gas imports and improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies (debate)

Madam President, phasing out Russian natural gas imports is about our energy security and destiny. But the real issue is not just to end direct Russian imports to the EU, but to also close the loopholes through third countries, especially unreliable and autocratic regimes that can play a dirty game at the expense of our vital interests for years. Turkey and Azerbaijan are both a striking example. …

25

Nov

2025

EN Speech

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European Defence Industry Programme and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (‘EDIP’) (debate)

Madam President, my congratulations to the rapporteurs. It may have taken long. It may not be as ample as we wished, but this is nevertheless another important step towards Europe's defence. EDIP introduces the first EU-level security-of-supply mechanism to guarantee reliable access to defence equipment development. It sets out a long-term framework for collaboration among Member States by doing m…

12

Nov

2025

EL Speech

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Condemning the illegal unilateral declaration of the secessionist entity created by Türkiye in Cyprus and the continued Turkish military occupation (debate)

Mr President, the separatist formation in occupied Cyprus is a creation of Turkey, as the title rightly says, which maintains, finances and controls it with its occupying troops. The UN Security Council condemned his proclamation, calling on all states to refrain from direct or indirect recognition. And the European Court of Justice has ruled that this is a vassal administration in Turkey, without…

22

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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Ending all energy imports from Russia to the EU and closing loopholes through third countries (debate)

Mr President, this draft legislation to ban Putin's oil and gas imports is not only about the EU, but finally to close the loopholes through third countries towards an energy-independent and stronger Europe. Regarding third countries, Turkey is a striking scandal. Even recently, Turkish officials stated that they will not comply with any sanctions, just like they do for years. The Commission, part…

21

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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Recent peace agreement in the Middle East and the role of the EU (debate)

Madam President, the recent peace conference for the Middle East brought hope for peace, but took place without the European Union. If the EU wants to be a global player, we cannot be absent from shaping peace and stability in a region that lies in our immediate neighbourhood and is of strategic importance, as confessed by the Commissioner. Strengthening our geopolitical role is essential for our …

8

Oct

2025

EN Speech

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United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure (debate)

Madam President, here is a sample of wording from Ms von der Leyen's initial statement regarding the recent Russian drone incursion against our eastern borders: 'hybrid warfare', 'deliberate campaign against Europe', 'we want to respond with unity, with the drone wall and other actions.' We fully agree with united actions to defend the EU. However, hundreds and hundreds of air, naval and terrain v…

6

Oct

2025

EL Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Madam President, new findings in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus increase the potential of energy reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean. We have repeatedly argued from this forum that the deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean, as domestic sources within the European Union, provide a unique advantage in our effort to become independent from third parties and have energy securi…

10

Sep

2025

EN Speech

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Detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr President, of course, I'd like to thank the Commissioner for what he has already said about the Cyprus and Turkish responsibility towards EU. However, I want everyone to note that the appropriate person for tonight's discussion and debate was supposed to be the High Representative, and I have noticed that since the inception of her term, she never attended and never participated in any debate a…

10

Sep

2025

EN Speech

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Detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr President, this resolution is about five European citizens, Cypriot nationals that, while visiting their properties in the occupied area of Cyprus, were illegally detained and subjected to inhumane treatment by the occupying regime established and ruled by Turkey. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support in drafting this strong resolution, particularly with two references specifica…

9

Jul

2025

EN Speech

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Urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus

Mr President, the recent attack against the Mar Elias Orthodox Church is one more atrocity taking place under the new jihadist regime in Syria. From the very beginning, the new rulers, according to credible reports, the same organisations that serve as our sources of information for the crimes committed during the Assad regime, hundreds of people were murdered in their homes, thousands were tortur…

9

Jul

2025

EL Speech

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51 years after the Turkish invasion of the Republic of Cyprus: condemning the continued Turkish occupation and supporting the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive solution in line with international law, the UNSC resolutions, EU principles and acquis (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, we have listened to you very carefully. Now you will listen to us, the representatives of the Republic of Cyprus. 51 years since the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation, with thousands killed, executed, hundreds of women brutally raped between the ages of 12 and 70, missing people still searching for their bones. And those of us who escaped and went through the refu…

17

Jun

2025

EL Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Montenegro (debate)

Madam President, we thank the rapporteur and colleagues for their constructive cooperation. Montenegro, as already highlighted, remains the most advanced candidate country of the Western Balkans. The accession path of candidate countries depends solely on their compliance with the specific Copenhagen political criteria, which ensure their commitment to our values and the rule of law. In this repor…

17

Jun

2025

EN Speech

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Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (debate)

Madam President, RRF has been an unprecedented instrument aiming to help the recovery and resilience in the EU after the Covid pandemic. As a group, we have always stood for the full use of the opportunities it offers for the benefit of our societies. In this specific report, we call for an 18-month extension for the implementation of mature projects, with the possibility for the finalisation of o…

21

May

2025

EL Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, in the last plenary we voted overwhelmingly in favour of the report on Turkey, which is a catapult against Turkey, described as a tyrannical regime within, and an international offender and expansionist outside its borders, including of course the occupation of European Union territory in Cyprus. Essentially, Turkey is failing in the criteria on the basis of which it was granted acce…

7

May

2025

EN Speech

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The illegal visit of President Erdoğan to the occupied areas of Cyprus (debate)

Madam President, the new Sultan of Ankara, during his recent illegal visit to the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, repeated his repulsive demands based on the so-called realities of the occupation of EU territory and the gross violation of fundamental rights of European citizens. This is, in fact, the mindset of a neo‑Ottoman tyrant and an expansionist. In his repulsive mind, thousands of …

7

May

2025

EN Speech

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Banking Union – annual report 2024 (debate)

Madam President, it has been more than 10 years since the banking union was agreed upon with a European deposit insurance scheme. However, it has not been implemented. Banking union without EDIS means banking union without fair competition, as the burden of deposit insurance falls on the Member States. In fact, larger states have a competitive advantage over smaller ones due to their size, as demo…

6

May

2025

EL Speech

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2023 and 2024 reports on Türkiye (debate)

Mr President, the rapporteur has admittedly had a very difficult job, but this report is indeed a catapult of findings, which characterise Turkey as a tyrannical regime within with a policy of neo-Ottoman expansionism outside. In particular, the report documents Turkey's failure in the criteria on the basis of which it was granted accession status. Moreover, today's Turkey is an anti-European powe…

5

May

2025

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, although in principle we agree with the facts as stated by my colleague, I'd like to say that, on behalf of the S&D group, we have proposed an alternative which has already been accepted. However, the title would be 'the illegal visit of President Erdoğan to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus' with one round group of speakers without resolution. However, I'd like to anno…

2

Apr

2025

EL Speech

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Progress in the UN-led efforts for the resumption of negotiations towards a solution to the Cyprus problem

Madam President, we support President Christodoulides in his effort to withdraw the Turkish occupation troops, end the occupation and resolve the Cyprus problem in accordance with the European acquis and the principles and resolutions of the UN. Our obligation as a body is concrete – a European Republic of Cyprus with all its territories, without occupying troops and settlers. Implement the Treati…

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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White paper on the future of European defence (debate)

Mr President, for years, very few of us were arguing in favour of European defence as a necessary step towards European autonomy. Today, almost everyone supports it, and we recently reached European conclusions with reference to the defence of all EU borders, from the northeast down to the south and eastern Mediterranean. But these EU borders are violated by the neo-Ottoman Turkey that occupies pa…

10

Mar

2025

EN Speech

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Parliament’s calendar of part-sessions - 2026

Madam President, I will be quite short because the subject has already been mentioned by some of my colleagues. It is with regard to the situation in Syria. Based on reports by agencies that were our sources of information during the Assad regime, hundreds of people have been murdered in their homes, thousands were tortured and kidnapped, including kids and women and men. Much more were expelled b…

10

Feb

2025

EN Speech

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the need for the European Union to contribute to resolving the humanitarian crisis of persons missing in wars and conflicts (debate)

Mr President, in 2001, the European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty for a continued violation of a number of conventions and articles, specifically with regard to the whereabouts and faith of Greek Cypriot missing persons during the Turkish invasion of 1974. Since then, as the European Parliament, we condemn Turkey for its actions, specifically for the intentional removal of human remain…

10

Feb

2025

EL Speech

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European Central Bank – annual report 2024 (debate)

Mr President, Mrs Lagarde, in taking up your duties I was the rapporteur for this report and I will try to be fair to you today. Congratulations on the stability of the euro in difficult times and the containment of inflation. However, two issues remain unresolved and I will limit myself to them, both of which concern the lack of fair competition in the banking system. We do not yet have a pan-Eur…

20

Jan

2025

EL Speech

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Madam President, after the overthrow of the Assad regime, we have a historic opportunity as the European Union for peace and stability in Syria and more broadly in the Middle East. On the basis of some parameters: first, protection of ethnic and religious communities; secondly, the jihadists cannot be our allies, and their renaming as supposedly moderate political opposition does not fool European…

18

Dec

2024

EN Speech

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Promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining and the right to strike in the EU (debate)

Mr President, social dialogue, including collective bargaining, is a crucial and beneficial tool for a well-functioning social market economy – one of the aims of the Treaties, as rightly pointed out by the Commissioner. In line with the Treaties, though, it's also the explicit protection of the autonomy of the tripartite social system in Member States. Now, regarding the EU directive on adequate …