Activities of Eleni THEOCHAROUS related to 2013/2945(RSP)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13

– having regard to the fact that, in its conclusions of 11 December 2012, the Council endorsed the Commission's new approach concerning the negotiating frameworks of new candidate states, to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement policy and confirmed the centrality in the negotiating process of Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and Chapter 24 (justice, freedom and security), which should be tackled early in the negotiations to allow clear benchmarks and sufficient time to introduce the necessary changes in legislation, reforms of institutions and thus solid track records of implementation,

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)

- having regard to the fact that the brutal use of police force against peaceful demonstrators in the context of the Taksim protests violate this major principle of the rule of law,

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16

– having regard to the fact that, for its own benefit, and with a view to enhancing stability and promoting good neighbourly relations, Turkey needs to step up its efforts to solve outstanding bilateral issues, including unsettled legal obligations and land and maritime border and airspace disputes with its immediate neighbours and also refrain from any threat against EU member states, in accordance with the provisions of the UN charter and with international law,

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the 2013 Progress Report on Turkey and shares the Commission's conclusion that Turkey is a strategic partner for the European Union and that ~~important~~ progress on reforms was made in the preceding twelve months; underlines the importance and urgent need of further reforms and the promotion of dialogue across the political spectrum and in society more broadly, as well as the respect of fundamental rights in practice; Calls upon Turkey to take further steps in order to enhance and increase the independence of the judiciary power and restore its credibility after being badly injured as a result of the current social and political crisis of corruption;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the importance of achieving a common understanding between Turkey and the EU on the relevance, for both the EU and Turkey, of the readmission agreement and the roadmap leading to visa liberalisation; recalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for irregular migration to the EU and therefore calls on Turkey to ~~sign and~~implement the readmission agreement without further delay; expresses concerns and regrets about statements delivered by the Turkish government that there is no intention of implementing the readmission agreement with~~out further delay~~ the Republic of Cyprus and underlines that this political attitude is in contrast with the EU legal system and therefore calls upon the Turkish government to respect and abide by the legal framework and obligations stemming from the readmission agreement; otherwise measures should be taken in order to protect the EU legal system and the legal and political rights of its Member states; calls on the Commission to ensure that, until this agreement comes into force and is fully and effectively implemented towards all Member States, existing bilateral agreements are fully implemented; calls on the Commission in parallel to take steps towards visa liberalisation and stresses the clear benefits of facilitating access to the EU for business people, academics, students and representatives of civil society;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Takes the view that the protests in Gezi Park testify both to the existence in Turkey of a vibrant civil society and also the need for further vital reforms on the promotion of fundamental values; highlights the importance of including civil society more structurally in the decision making process; deeply regrets the loss of life amongst the protesters and the police forces, the excessive use of force by the police and the violent acts by a number of protesters; welcomes the on-going administrative investigations launched by the Ministry of Interior and the inquiries by the Ombudsman into complaints related to the events in Gezi Park and expects them to fully address the concerns without delay; calls on Turkey to adopt adequate internal review procedures and to establish an independent supervisory body for police offences; is highly concerned about the adoption of a new regulation that would allow the police to detain potential protesters from 12 to 24 hours without the demand of a prosecutor or a judge; is of the opinion that the Gezi Park events underline the need for far- reaching reforms in order to ensure respect for freedom of assembly;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Expresses concerns at the very limited coverage of the Gezi Park events by Turkish media and the dismissal of journalists who criticised the Government’s reactions to such events; recalls that freedom of expression and media pluralism are at the heart of European values and that an independent press is crucial to a democratic society; reiterates once again its concern at the fact that most media are owned by and concentrated in, large conglomerates with a wide range of business interests and points out to the worrying widespread phenomenon of self-censorship by media owners and journalists; ~~expresses concern at~~sharply criticizes the particularly high number of journalists currently in pre-trial detention which undermines freedom of expression and media and calls on Turkey’s judicial authorities to review and address these cases as soon as possible;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Reaffirms its support to the Commission’s new approach of opening Chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice and home affairs) early in the negotiation process and closing them at the end; stresses that delivering the official benchmarks for the opening of such Chapters to Turkey would provide a clear roadmap for and give a boost to the reform process; calls, therefore, on the Council to make renewed efforts for the opening of Chapters 23 and 24; calls on Turkey to cooperate as much as possible to this effect;deleted

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Reaffirms its support to the Commission’'s new approach - concerning the negotiating framework of the new candidate states - of opening Chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice and home affairs) early in the negotiation process and closing them at the end; stresses that delivering the official benchmarks for the opening of such Chapters to Turkey would provide a clear roadmap for and give a boost to the reform process; calls, therefore, on the Council to make renewed efforts for the opening of Chapters 23 and 24; calls upon ~~Turkey~~the Turkish government to cooperate as much as possible to this effect and to fulfil all of its relevant legal obligations stemming from the acquis communautaire and the negotiating framework and fully respect, without discrimination, the sovereign rights of the EU member states, especially the fundamental rights and judiciary systems;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines concerns regarding the scandals of corruption and the disputable role that the judiciary power holds in the Turkish system and calls upon Turkey to take such legal and political measures to ensure transparency and enhance the independent character of the judiciary power before the European Council takes any decision about the opening of chapters 23 and 24;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Underlines the importance of investigating and awarding justice about the scandals of corruption and put an end to the political and social turmoil so that Turkey facilitates and continues the reforms giving a boost to the negotiations with the EU;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Urges the avoidance of any kind of threat, source of friction or actions which could damage good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes; stresses all the sovereign rights of EU Member States which include, inter alia, entering into bilateral agreements, in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls upon Turkey to stop hindering all legal efforts and initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus and foreign companies which drill within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, with the aim of exploring gas and oil. Calls upon Turkey to stop violating the acquis communautaire and International Law of the Sea, which is indispensable part of its accession negotiation with the EU and therefore abide by the rules and the legal and political character of a candidate state that should fully respect the sovereign rights of all member states as the Treaties provide for;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Calls upon the Turkish government to refrain from any threats and or actions against the sovereign rights and the jurisdictions of the Republic of Cyprus within its territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Reiterates its strong support for the reunification of Cyprus, based on a fair democratic and viable settlement for both communities in accordance with protocol 10 and in line with the values and principles upon which the EU is founded; asks Turkey to actively support the negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General and the positive and catalytic EU support, so that the democratic values and principles are fully respected and enshrined, and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions; cCalls on Turkey to immediately begin withdrawing its forces from Cyprus and to transfer the sealed-off area city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants, and to the UN, in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984)~~; calls~~ and thus facilitating the efforts towards a comprehensive solution; Calls on in parallel on the Republic of Cyprus to open the port of Famagusta, under EU customs supervision, in order to promote a positive climate for the successful solution of the ongoing reunification negotiations, and to allow Turkish Cypriots to trade directly in a legal manner that is acceptable to all being in line with the International Law, the acquis communautaire and with full respect to the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, as Protocol 10 and the Treaties provide for; takes note of the proposals by the Government of Cyprus to address the above issues;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls upon the Turkish government to fully comply with its legal obligations stemming from the acquis communautaire and particularly from the Declaration issued by the European Community and its Member States on 21 September 2005;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of Turkey’s decision to grant the Committee on Missing Persons access to a fenced military area in the northern part of Cyprus and ~~encourages~~calls on Turkey to allow the Committee to full access to relevant archives and military zones for exhumation and to take all other appropriate actions, in accordance with the findings of the ECHR, on the humanitarian issue of the missing persons; calls for special consideration for the work done by the Committee on Missing Persons and calls upon Turkey to assist at the acceleration of the procedures;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on Turkey to address the issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens (settlers) on the island in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the principles of International Law;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21b. Urges Turkey to ensure that the rights of all displaced persons in Cyprus are respected, including those of the religious minorities, who should be allowed to freely exercise their religious rights;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)

21c. Urges Turkey to take concrete measures in order to give an end to the destruction of cultural and religious heritage sites in the northern part of Cyprus and thereby saving a valuable part of European and global civilisation;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses the importance of a coherent and comprehensive security approach in the Eastern Mediterranean,; and calls on Turkey to allow political dialogue between the EU and NATO by lifting its veto on EU-NATO cooperation including Cyprus, and calls, in parallel, on the Republic of Cyprus to lift its veto on Turkey’s participation in the European Defence Agency; welcomes the intention of the Cyprus Government to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme and urges Turkey to adopt an equally constructive attitude;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Urges Turkey to take measures and put an end to an ecological disaster occurring on the mountain of Pentadaktylos as a result of unregulated quarrying;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Deplores Turkey’s refusal to fulfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement towards all Member States; recalls ~~that this refusal continues to have a profound effect on the~~upon Turkey to lift the embargo that it has imposed upon vessels and airplanes belonging to the Republic of Cyprus, through the opening of its ports and airports; calls on the Turkish government to fully implement the Additional Protocol without discrimination and further delay; recalls that this refusal continues to deeply affect the process of negotiation ~~proces~~s;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Believes that, in view of Turkey’s strategic role as an energy hub, ~~consideration should be given to the value of opening negotiations on Chapter 15 on energy; underlines that~~ energy and climate efficiency priorities ~~need to~~should be addressed;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET