European Parliament discusses mutual assistance clause and energy security

During a plenary session on Tuesday, European People's Party chairman Manfred Weber called for the establishment of clear rules for Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, known as the mutual assistance clause. Weber highlighted the current situation in Cyprus as a reason for urgency and praised President Nikos Christodoulides for his efforts to advance this issue, which he described as the military dimension of European solidarity. Additionally, Weber noted the importance of the new Defense Commissioner position and mentioned discussions regarding the creation of a permanent Defense Committee in the European Parliament. Representing the Council of the EU, Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna addressed the Middle East crisis, asserting that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the conflict. Raouna emphasized that the conflict has direct consequences for the security and economy of the European Union. Separately, Ursula von der Leyen and Mette Frederiksen stressed the need for the EU to reduce dependence on external energy sources to bolster energy autonomy.