Kyriakos Mavronikolas (S&D). – (EL) Mr President, a report such as this is necessary, especially in these difficult times, and I endorse its broad objectives. The Member States need to cooperate closely and to coordinate their efforts in order to combat the common threats identified in the European security strategy, by shouldering their share of the responsibility for establishing peace and security, not only in Europe, but in neighbouring countries and the wider world.

The economic and financial crisis may constitute a challenge and, at the same time, an opportunity to integrate the defence policies of the European Union, given that they can encourage the Member States to apply necessary and important reforms in the defence and security sector. It is perfectly comprehensible and we support and back the pooling and sharing policy as things stand. However, due to the military occupation of Cyprus and the continuing presence of Turkish troops on the island, the Republic of Cyprus cannot implement the recommendations in the report to the degree that it would like to do, especially in the pooling and sharing sector. Cyprus is forced to continue to focus all its efforts on territorial defence-based action.