The President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, sent a letter on October 20 to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting the resumption of negotiations regarding the EU's mutual defense clause. Christodoulides emphasized in this letter: "I cannot overstate the importance of this clause for the European Union and its member states, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainty."
Importance of the Mutual Defense Clause
Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty states that if one of the EU member states is faced with an "armed attack," the other members are obliged to provide "assistance and support by all means in their power." This clause has come into focus particularly in light of increasing geopolitical threats, including the weakening of the transatlantic alliance by former U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as Russia's attack on Ukraine and wars in the Middle East.
Current Status of Negotiations
Christodoulides noted in his letter that given the serious challenges Europe is facing, Cyprus welcomes the resumption of discussions in the relevant institutions. He also requested an update on the proposals under consideration and the timeline for the next steps. Earlier this year, the EU had simulated the practical functioning of this clause. Cyprus's six-month presidency of the Council of Europe, which ended on June 30, prioritized this issue, especially after the Iranian drone attacks on a British base in Cyprus in March.
However, this issue has largely fallen off the EU's agenda as the union focuses on its approximately €2 trillion seven-year budget negotiations and finding additional funding for Ukraine. An EU official confirmed that Article 42.7 will not be on the agenda of any upcoming European leaders' meetings in the near future.
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