Mick Wallace (The Left). - Mr President, Turkey is a NATO member and is a partner of many EU Member States. So why does the EU actually tolerate what Turkey gets up to? Turkey has been breaking international law on a regular basis for a long time and we put up with it.
Now we complain, and rightly so, about their illegality with Cyprus and Greece. But you know what? I actually think Turkey must be confused because we never said bugger all to them about their illegal occupation of Iraq or their stealing oil, their illegal occupation of Syria, along with the Americans and the Israelis, where oil and food has been stolen.
The inconsistencies of this place makes a mockery of our notion of the rule of law, of fundamental values and European values. Come on, why don't you apply the same rule every day? Are you okay with Turkey continuing to illegally occupy Syria? And now they're threatening to move further into it and take more of it, and you’re saying nothing to them. Is it because you basically prefer Erdogan to Assad? Bring in some consistency and you shall have some credibility. Until then, you shall have no credibility.
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Turkey: persistently further from EU values and standards
Without clear and significant progress on EU-related reforms, Parliament cannot envisage resuming accession negotiations with Turkey, warned MEPs on Tuesday.
In a report adopted on Tuesday by 448 votes in favour, 67 against and 107 abstentions, MEPs warn that in spite of Turkey’s repeated statements that it aims to become an EU member, over the past two years the country has consistently gone back on its commitments in relation to the accession process.
Parliament welcomes the recent slight improvement in overall EU-Turkey relations, in particular, the high-level dialogues. This enhanced cooperation has unfortunately coexisted alongside regular conflicts, as relations with neighbouring EU member states remain challenging, stress MEPs.
The report points to the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey. MEPs regret the sustained legal and administrative pressure on civil society and human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists. They call on the Commission to provide sufficient funding for pro-democracy efforts in Turkey.
Importance of close EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy
Welcoming Turkey’s willingness to act as a mediator in the Russian war against Ukraine, MEPs stress the vital importance of good EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy in the current challenging times and thank the country for its firm alignment with NATO and the EU.
The report commends Turkey’s efforts in continuing to host the largest refugee population in the world, and notes the sustained provision of EU funding for this purpose, which MEPs commit to maintain in the future. They also support the Commission’s proposal to start negotiations to update a mutually beneficial Customs Union, but warn that Parliament would only support a final agreement if necessary democratic conditions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect of international law and good neighbourly relations are met.
To sum-up, Parliament cannot at this stage justify modifying its position concerning the formal suspension of the accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018, MEPs say. By openly defying the binding rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the case of Osman Kavala and others, the current Turkish Government has deliberately demolished any aspirations of reopening the EU accession process at this time, they add.
Turkish objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO applications
MEPs call on the Turkish government to handle Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership applications in good faith, to engage constructively in efforts to solve possible outstanding issues and to refrain from exerting any undue pressure in this process. In the current serious circumstances, it is important that all NATO allies act with foresight and swiftly ratify the accession protocols of the two countries, they stress.