Activities of Eleni THEOCHAROUS related to 2018/2150(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2018 Report on Turkey (debate) EL
Amendments (13)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to its previous resolutions on Turkey, in particular those of 24 November 2016 on EU-Turkey relations1 , of 27 October 2016 on the situation of journalists in Turkey2 , and, of 8 February 2018 on the human rights situation in Turkey3 , _________________ 1 2 3 and of 13 November 2014 on Turkish actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0450. Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0423. Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0040.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
— having regard to the Presidency conclusions of 13 December 2016 and the Council Conclusions of 26 June 2018, and to the previous relevant Council and European Council conclusions,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
— 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 to the need for Turkey to proceed to the normalization of its relations with all Member States and to fully implement the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement towards all MS, by removing all obstacles to the free movement of goods, withoutincluding restrictions orn means of transport, without prejudice and discrimination,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
— having regard to the Commission recommendation of 21 December 2016 for a Council dDecision authorising the opening of negotiations with Turkey on an aAgreement on the extension of the scope of the bilateral preferential trade relationship and on the modernisation of the Customs Union, as well as the Council Conclusions of 26June 2018 stating that no further work towards the modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union is foreseen,
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, taking all of the above into account andTaking all of the above into account, calls on the Commission and the Council of the European Union, in accordance with the Negotiating Framework, to formally suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey unless Turkey complies with the Copenhagen criteria and implements its contractual obligations towards all MSs; remains, however, committed to democratic dialogue with Turkey; and asks the Commission to use, during the formal suspension of negotiations, all funds available under IPA II and the future IPA III to support, through a dedicated envelope directly managed by the EU, Turkey’s civil society, and to increase opportunities for people- to- people contacts, academic dialogue, access for Turkish students to European universities and media platforms for journalists under the condition of promoting the EU relations on the basis of democratic values and principles;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that while the EU accession process was at its start a strong motivation for reforms in Turkey, there has been a stark regression in the areas of the rule of law and human rights during the last few years; recalls that the European Parliament repeatedly called for the opening of Chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and Chapter 24 on Justice, Freedom and Security at a time when the Turkish government had pledged to conduct serious reforms and normalise its judicial, legal, political and diplomatic relations with all member states; regrets deeply that the accession instruments could not be used to the fullest extent owingdue to a continued blockage by the Council;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that a door should be left open for the modernisation and upgradinge of the 1995 Customs Union between the EU and Turkey, to include relevant areas such as agriculture, services and public procurement, which currently are not covered; recalls that two thirds of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Turkey comes from EU Member States and that Turkey is an important growth market for the EU; believes that the upgrade would provide a valuable opportunity for democratic conditionality, positive leverage and the possibility of a roadmap where the upgradinge of the Ccustoms Uunion would go hand in hand with concrete commitments by Turkey on democratic reforms with full respect to relevant agreements and the legal system of the EU and its member states; believes further that the upgradinge of the Ccustoms Uunion wcould provide an important opportunity for policy dialogue on climate change as well as on labour rights in Turkey; calls on the Commission to start preparatory works for the upgradinge of the Customs Union as soon as the Turkish Ggovernment indicates its readiness for serious reforms and at a time when it fulfils all the obligations stemming from the current custom union between Turkey and the EU including also the Additional Protocol concerning the Republic of Cyprus;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Reiterates its call 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, 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 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that visa liberalisation is of great importance for Turkish citizens, particularly for students, academics, business representatives, and people with family ties in EU Mmember Sstates; encourages the Turkish Government to fully and in a non-discriminatory manner comply with the 72 criteria identified in the visa liberalisation roadmap, towards all Member States; stresses that the revision of Turkey’s anti-terrorism legislation is a key condition forto ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms, and that visa liberalisation willcould be possible once all the criteria have been metfully and effectively met, in a non-discriminatory manner, towards all Member States;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 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 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Calls on the Turkish Government to halt its plans for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant; requests that the Turkish Government join the Espoo Convention; asks the Turkish Government to involve, or at least consult, the governments of its neighbouring countries, such as Greece and Cyprus, during any further developments in the Akkuyu venture;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes theRegrets that the International Conference held in Crans Montana with the guarantor powers and the participation of the EU failed to lead to a democratic settlement due to the Turkish policy which refuses to fully withdraw its troops from Cyprus and 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 by the EU on September 21, 2005; welcomes efforts by the UN to resume negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus; supports a fair, comprehensive, democratic and viable settlement in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the EU acquis, the EU acquis and the values and principles upon which the EU is founded; reiterates its call on Turkey to commit and contribute to a comprehensive settlement, to begin withdrawing its troops from Cyprus, to transfer the sealed-off area of Famagusta to the UN, and to refrain from actions altering the demographic balance on the island; praises the important work of the Committee on Missing Personscity of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants without further delay, as the relevant UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984) provides for, and calls upon Turkey to immediately end its policy of illegal colonization at the occupied in Northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, which is contrary to the Geneva Convention and to the principles of International law; calls on Turkey to refrain from actions altering the demographic balance on the island; praises the important work of the Committee on Missing Persons 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; recognises the right of the Republic of Cyprus to enter into bilateral agreements concerning its exclusive economic zone; urges Turkey to engage in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to refrain from any threat or action within or outside the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus which might have negative effects on good neighbourly relations;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Urges Turkey to show restraint and to respect Cyprus’ sovereignty over its territorial sea and Cyprus’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone; deeply regrets recent statements by Turkey in this regard;