European Parliament condemns detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus

In brief

On 11 September 2025, the European Parliament adopted a resolution strongly condemning the detention of European Union (EU) citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The text was approved by 597 votes in favour, 0 against and 5 abstentions.

Background

Since 1974, the north of Cyprus has been militarily occupied by Turkey. EU citizens, including Greek Cypriots and other European nationals, have been arrested and arbitrarily detained in this area by the de facto authorities. These detentions violate international law and fundamental EU rights.

What Parliament decided

The European Parliament adopted a resolution which:

• Condemns firmly the detention of EU citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
• Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained persons.
• Calls on Turkey to respect international law and put an end to these practices.
• Requests the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to take measures to protect EU citizens and prevent such incidents.

Vote result

The resolution was adopted by electronic vote with 597 votes in favour, 0 against and 5 abstentions. This result shows near-unanimous support from MEPs for the defence of EU citizens' rights.

What this means for citizens

This resolution sends a strong message: the European Parliament does not tolerate violations of EU citizens' rights, wherever they occur. For European citizens, this means that the EU is mobilising for their protection, even in areas outside its direct control. The resolution could lead to concrete measures, such as sanctions or diplomatic pressure, to guarantee the safety of Europeans in Cyprus.