Activities of Eleni THEOCHAROUS related to 2016/2308(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2016 Report on Turkey (debate) EL
Amendments (17)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to its previous resolutions, in particular those of 24 November 2016 on EU-Turkey relations1 [1], and 27 October 2016 on the situation of journalists in Turkey2 , _________________ 1[2], and of 13 November 2014 on Turkey's actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, [1] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0450. 2[2] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0423.
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the declaration issued by the European Community and its Member States on 21 September 2005, including the provision that the recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the negotiations, and the need for Turkey to fulproceed to the normalisation of its relations with all Member States and to fully and effectively implement the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement to all Member States by removing all obstacles to the free movement of goods including restrictions on means of transport, without prejudice and discrimination,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
— having regard to Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which states that the contracting parties undertake to abide by the final judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in any case to which they are parties, and to the obligation of Turkey to implement all judgements of the ECtHR, in line with Article 46,
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
— having regard to the crisis in Syria, the efforts towards a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, and Turkey’'s obligations to enhance stability and promote good neighbourly relations through intensive efforts in order to resolve outstanding bilateral issues, disputes and conflicts with the neighbouring countries over land and maritime borders and airspace, in accordance with the UN Charter and UNCLOS,
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that strengthening trade relations could bring concrete benefits to citizens in Turkey and the EU, and therefore supports the Commission’s proposal to start negotiations on the upgrading of the Customs UnionTakes note of the preparatory work for an upgrading of the EU-Turkey Customs Union, without prejudice to Member States' position. The upgrading of the legal process of the Customs Union can only begin when Turkey fully implements the Additional Protocol vis-à- vis all Member States; believes that strengthening trade relations could bring concrete benefits to citizens in Turkey and the EU; reiterates that the EU is Turkey’'s main trading partner and that two thirds of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Turkey comes from EU Member States; considers the involvementconsultation of social partners in negotiations as crubeneficial; calls on the Commission to include political benchmarks on human rights and fundamental freedoms in the upgraded Customs Union; notes that a prerequisite for the modernisation of the Customs Union is that Turkey should proceed to the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the existing Customs Union vis-à-vis all MS, including the Republic of Cyprus;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on Turkey to further align its foreign policy with that of the EU in accordance with the provisions of the Negotiating Framework;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that visa liberalisation is important for the Turkish population and will enhance people-to-people contacts; encouragescalls on the Turkish Government to withdraw unilateral declarations and to comply with the finall outstanding criteria, including revision of its anti-terrorism legislation; calls on the Turkish Government to fully and effectively implement both the Visa Liberalisation Road Map and the Readmission Agreement vis-à-vis all Member States, including cooperation on JHA issues and non-discriminatory access to the Turkish territory for the citizens of all EU Member States;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to take into account the latest developments in Turkey when conducting the mid-term review of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds in 2017, and to suspend all pre-accession funds ifsince Turkey no longer sufficiently complies withdoes not fulfil the EU’'s Copenhagen criteria; calls on the Commission to use those funds to support Turkish civil society and to invest more in people-to-people exchange programmes, such as Erasmus+ for students;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on Turkey to cooperate with relevant international organizations, especially the Council of Europe, in preventing and combatting illicit trafficking and the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that a democratic settlement of the Cyprus problem would have a positive impact on the entire region, while first and foremost benefiting both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; praisesdespite what the leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus for having achievedstated about major progress in the settlement talks; welcomes the exchange of preferred maps, thus far unprecedented, and no positive outcome occurred yet; unfortunately, the first international conference held at Geneva with the guarantor powers; supports the settlement based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, and the participation of the EU failed to lead the Cyprus issue to a comprehensive settlement, due to the Turkish policy which refuses to fully withdraw its troops from Cyprus and to negate the anachronistic Treaty of Guarantors; regrets that the Turkish policy is in conflict with the EU values and principles; calls upon Turkey to immediately recognise the Republic of Cyprus and fully respect and implement the declaration issued on September 21 2005; supports a democratic settlement based on the continuity of the Republic of Cyprus with a single international legal personality, single sovereignty and single citizenship with political equality between , in line withe two communities, in line withhe International Law, the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and on the basis of respect for the values and principles upon which the EUnion is founded; welcomes the intensified engagement by the parties to achieve the settlement of the Cyprus problem; expects Turkey to show active support for the negotiations, and reiterates that Turkey’'s commitment and contribution to a comprehensive settlement remain crucial; praises the important work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), and calls on Turkey to allow access to all relevant sites and to assist the CMP by providing information from its military archives; calls upon Turkey to return the city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants, without further delay, as the relevant UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984) provides for and to immediately withdraw its troops from Cyprus as positive steps to the achievement of a democratic solution; praises the important work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), and calls on Turkey to allow unconditional access to military zones and all relevant sites and to provide relevant information from its military and other archives, thus maximising the effectiveness of the excavations conducted by the CMP;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Calls on Turkey to fully implement the ECHR rulings; Reiterates the relevant ECHR judgments and rulings and the request to immediately stop the violation of human rights of the Cypriot citizens; calls on Turkey to stop depriving them from freely enjoying and exercising their property, religious and other human rights stemming from the Constitutional Order of the Republic of Cyprus and the acquis communautaire, as well as from the fundamental principles and values of the EU and the UN;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Recognizes the right of the Republic of Cyprus to sign bilateral agreements concerning its EEZ and calls upon Turkey to fully respect the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus stemming from the International Law of the Sea;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19 c. Calls upon Turkey to fully respect the religious and other historical monuments in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus and the human rights of the Greek Cypriots remaining enclaved in the Peninsula of Karpasia;
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19 d. Calls upon Turkey to immediately end its policy of illegal colonialization at the occupied northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, which is contrary to the Geneva Convention and to the principles of International Law; urges Turkey to stop settlers policy, which alters the demographic character of Cyprus and constitutes, in accordance with the reports issued by CUCO and Laakso, a "clock bomb" on the foundation of the solution to the Cyprus problem;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19 e. Calls on Turkey to fulfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement vis-à-vis all Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus, the fulfilment of which could provide a significant boost to the negotiation process; regrets that Turkey has still not made progress towards the normalization of its relations with the Republic of Cyprus; reiterates that recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the accession process and calls for progress without any further delay;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19 f. Reiterates that Turkey needs to commit itself unequivocally to good neighbourly relations, international agreements and to peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, having recourse, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice; expresses serious concern over Turkey's renewed threats and provocations as well its decision to issue a NAVTEX purporting to reserve an area within the territorial sea, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Cyprus; urges Turkey to refrain from any further threat or action which might lead to friction and crisis and might have negative effects on the negotiations for ending the unacceptable status quo; recognizes the right of Member States to enter into bilateral agreements and to explore and exploit natural resources in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and stresses the need to respect the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of Member States over their territorial sea and airspace;