The European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) voted on 3 June 2026 to adopt two files: an opinion on the Global Europe instrument and a motion for resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus on Cypriot women and girls. Both votes proceeded smoothly with broad cross-group support and no major divergences.
Rapporteur Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew, Sweden) stressed that women, girls, and children are the first victims of conflicts and aid degradation, thanking shadow rapporteurs for cooperation. The opinion on Global Europe, which governs EU external aid, was adopted after a series of compromise amendments. The resolution on Cyprus, rapporteur Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greece), recalled the committee's mission to Cyprus a year ago and said the resolution provides moral reparation to victims of sexual violence used as a weapon of war. Loukas Fourlas (EPP, Greece) added that after 51 years, victims feel some reparation. The resolution and an accompanying oral question were adopted by roll call.
The Global Europe opinion shapes EU external aid priorities, benefiting women and girls in conflict zones through gender-sensitive programming. The Cyprus resolution offers symbolic reparation to Cypriot victims of sexual violence during the 1974 invasion, though it carries no binding legal or financial commitments. No concrete EU measures beyond these parliamentary texts were announced.