Konstantinos Konstantinidis – Amphiktyon
Europe continues to face unresolved geopolitical issues that affect its security, stability, and cohesion. Some of these problems have remained unsettled for decades and require a long-term political approach.
The Cyprus Issue
The division of Cyprus remains one of the most significant unresolved issues on the European continent. The presence of Turkish troops in the northern part of the island since 1974 and the absence of a definitive settlement perpetuate a situation that is incompatible with the principles of European integration.
The search for a just and sustainable solution, based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the European acquis communautaire, should remain a priority for the European Union.
The European Dimension of Eastern Thrace and Constantinople
If Turkey, through new legislation currently under consideration, challenges the Treaty of Lausanne and raises issues such as “grey zones” and other revisionist claims, then the question of European integration in Eastern Thrace, as well as in Imbros and Tenedos, should also be placed on the agenda.
Eastern Thrace and Constantinople constitute geographical parts of the European continent and possess particular historical, cultural, and geopolitical significance for Europe.
The issue of revisiting the status of Eastern Thrace—an overwhelmingly Greek region until 1922 before it came under Turkish sovereignty—as well as that of Constantinople, should be openly discussed from historical and geopolitical perspectives.
A broader dialogue should be initiated regarding the European character of the region, the protection of historical monuments, religious freedoms, cultural heritage, and the rights and identity of hidden or overlooked minority communities.
The Russo-Ukrainian Conflict
The war between Russia and Ukraine is the most serious military conflict in Europe since the Cold War.
Peace cannot be built solely through military means. Sooner or later, a political settlement will be required—one that guarantees Ukraine’s security, preserves the stability of the European continent, and prevents future conflicts.
Despite current hostilities, Russia remains an important part of the European cultural and historical space. In the long term, Europe will need to find a new framework for coexistence and cooperation with Russia when conditions permit.
The Turkish Question
Turkey remains a country of considerable geostrategic importance. However, its relations with neighboring states are often characterized by tensions, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea, Syria, and Cyprus.
The European Union must approach Turkey with realism. Cooperation is necessary in several areas, but issues concerning democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for the sovereignty of neighboring states cannot be ignored.
Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean requires good-neighborly relations and the abandonment of revisionist policies.
The Role of the European Union
The European Union often focuses on developments in Northern and Eastern Europe, while issues concerning the Eastern Mediterranean do not always receive equivalent attention.
A comprehensive European strategy must take into account both the challenges of the North and those of the South. Europe’s security is indivisible.
Conclusion
Twenty-first century Europe is called upon to resolve problems inherited from the twentieth century. The Cyprus issue, relations with Turkey, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, and the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean are matters that require dialogue, strategic thinking, and long-term planning.
Solutions will emerge through political will, international legality, and a balanced distribution of power. Only in this way can a safer, more stable, and more prosperous Europe be built.
(31 May 2026)
Amphiktyon – Lieutenant General (ret.) Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Author – Member of the Society of Greek Writers
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