Newsroom
European leaders gathering in Dublin on Thursday will discuss how to defend their democracies against war, cyberattacks and disinformation. Cyprus has brought a specific request to the table: Put the international rules that govern rights at sea in writing.
The Cypriot government says an explicit reference to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea has been incorporated into the text of a European security declaration led by France. For an island that relies on undersea infrastructure for projects such as the proposed electricity link with Greece, the rules that govern what countries can do at sea are a practical concern.
President Nikos Christodoulides arrived in Dublin on Wednesday evening from the U.N. climate summit in Antalya. He is scheduled to join a session led by the British and Danish prime ministers on Russia’s war in Ukraine, cyber threats and how to protect democratic institutions. European Council President António Costa and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin are co-chairing the wider summit.
Energy is also on Cyprus’ agenda. A cable linking Cyprus to Greece would give the island a connection to Europe’s electricity grid, allowing it to import power when needed. For households watching their electricity bills, that is one of the more tangible issues behind the summit’s talk of energy security. The Dublin meeting itself has no power to approve the project or set electricity prices.
Cyprus is also expected to sign a migration statement backed by more than 30 countries, according to the government briefing. Led by Italy and the United Kingdom, it focuses on preparing for changes in migration flows, countering false information and working together on returns. European leaders are also expected to issue a separate statement on tackling drug trafficking.
The European Political Community brings together leaders from inside and outside the EU, giving countries such as Cyprus and the United Kingdom a place to discuss shared problems. Its declarations are voluntary, so what matters after Dublin is what governments agree to do together on energy, migration and security.
