Theme of the day of 29 September 2006

Parliament adopts tough but fair stance on Turkey

European Parliament adopted Camiel Eurlings' (NL) report on Turkey's progress towards accession with an overwhelming majority (429 in favour, 71 against). A majority of MEPs shared the conclusion that the reform process in Turkey has slowed down significantly last year.

Camiel Eurlings MEP said after the vote: "This is a tough but fair signal. I hope it will be perceived by Turkish politicians and the Turkish public as an encouragement to restart the reform process." He added that the freedom of expression as interpreted by article 301 of the new penal code raises many doubts.

Eurlings said: "The reconfirmation of the sentence of Mr Hrant Dink proves that art. 301 has to change. I ask the Turkish Government and the Turkish people to recognise the need for this. It is important for their freedom, it is important for the image of Turkey in the world."

Referring to the freedom of religion and to schooling facilities which have to reopen, Eurlings said that "Turkey must give back the properties to the religious minorities and change the proposed law on foundations, so that seized church property can be given back, or their proprietors are compensated. For a country that wants to be European, it is very important that it should be as easy to build a Christian church in Turkey as it is to build a mosque in the current Member States of the EU."

He is worried about the situation in south-east Turkey: "I strongly condemn the PKK (Kurdish Communist Party) and all forms terrorism; there is never any excuse for terrorism. But at the same time I ask Turkey to try to find peaceful interlocutors, try to find a political way and invest in the social and economic development of the south-east."

Regarding Cyprus this report stipulates that the EP wants to see more efforts by the EU in the northern part of the island in terms of trade arrangements. As the Council has done a few months ago, Parliament demands the full implementation of the Ankara Protocol before the end of 2006. The rapporteur pointed out that "big trouble lies ahead with the negotiations if the implementation of the Ankara Protocol is not settled this year."

On the Armenian question the EP adopted a strong position. It reached the conclusion that, although this is not one of the Copenhagen criteria, it is indispensable for a country on the road to Europe to come to terms its past. Eurlings suggested that Turkey should accept a UN committee on the issue and to respect its final outcome. In the short term, Ankara should stop jailing people when they express their opinions on the Armenian Genocide.

The report states that the EP is committed to the accession process of Turkey, but asks a quick proof of Turkey's commitment too. Only if Turkey restarts reforms in a vigorous way can the future of the process be guaranteed.

Written by Eduardus Slootweg

Eurling's speech in the Plenary

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