Cyprus supports the proposal advocated by the Netherlands and Italy to include a Commissioner for Defense in the new European Commission. European defense matters have so far been handled by NATO, and within the EU by the so-called Foreign Representative.
President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday expressed support for the appointment of a European Union defense commissioner. The idea was first mooted in February by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She had said at the time at the Munich Security Conference that “if I were to become president of the next European Commission, I would have a commissioner for defense.”
Within the EU, there has been talk for years about jointly developing and building military material and equipment, but many EU countries mainly want to protect the interests of their own industry. The Russian war - in a westward direction - against Ukraine has led to different insights within the EU, but it is still unclear what the heads of state and government want from it.
The plan for a EU Defense Minister has already received support from the Netherlands and Italy in recent weeks, with Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren saying: “I think it would be a good idea if the next European Commission places this very highly would set the agenda.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also backed the idea, saying: “It is a proposal that I absolutely support. We need to be real actors in foreign policy.”
Cypriot President Christodoulides said such a position “will further strengthen the defense and security of the European Union.” Speaking about Cyprus's own defense sector, he said the country "has proven itself to be a pillar of security and stability in the wider Middle East region, an area of particular geostrategic importance."