44 Amendments of Adrian SEVERIN related to 2012/2870(RSP)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
– having regard to the fact that accession negotiations with Turkey were opened on 3 October 2005 after the Council had approved the Negotiating Framework, and that the opening of such negotiations is the starting point for a long-lasting and open- ended process based on fair and rigorous conditionality and the commitment to reform,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the fact that the positive agenda was launched in May 2012 to support and complement thecomplement and strengthen the accession negotiations, through enhanced cooperation in a number of areas of joint interest,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to the fact that in its conclusions of 11 December 2012 the Council endorsed the Commission's new approach to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement policy and confirmed the centrality in the negotiating process of chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights and chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security, which should be tacklopened early in the negotiations to allow clear benchmarks and maximum time to establish the necessary legislation, institutions and solid track records of implementation,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the fact that in its 2012 Enlargement Strategy the Commission concluded that, for Turkey is a key country for the European Union in terms of its economy, strategic location and important regional role, Turkey is a key country for the European Union and that the accession process remains the most suitable framework for promoting EU-related reforms in Turkey; having regard to the fact that the Commission expressed concern regarding Turkey's lack of progress on the fulfilment of the political criteria,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14a (new)
Citation 14a (new)
- having regard to the fact that the Commission expressed concern regarding Turkey's slow progress on the fulfilment of the political criteria,
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14b (new)
Citation 14b (new)
- having regard to the progress made by Turkey in the field of the Constitutional reform,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the fact that both Turkey has still not implemented, for the seventh consecutive yearand the EU have still only partially implemented, the provisions stemming from the EC-Turkey Association Agreement and the Additional Protocol thereto,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
– having regard to Turkey's potential to play a pivotal role in diversifying energy resources and routes for oil and gas transit from neighbouring countries to the EU,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19a (new)
Citation 19a (new)
- having regard to Turkey's key geostrategic role in creating a bridge between the European Union, North Africa, South Caucasus and the Middle East; having regard to Turkey's military influence in the MENA region,
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
– having regard to the casus belli threat declared by the TGNA against Greece ion 1995, which should be withdrawn; having regard to the importance of a new round of talk8 June 1995, in reaction to the Greek Parliament decision adopted on 1 June 1995 to sign the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; having regard to the importance of withdrawing the threat as a first step in launching negotiations between Turkey and Greece to improve their relations and reach a resolution to the outstanding issue,
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Commends the Commission and Turkey for the implementation of the positive agenda, which proves how, in a context of mutual engagement and clear objectives, Turkey and the EU could advance their dialogue, achieve common understanding and produce positive change; believes that a renewed mutual engagement in the context of the accession negotiation process is needed to maintain a constructive relationship; stresses the importance of creating the conditions for a constructive dialogue and the foundations for a common understanding;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Council decision to iInvites the Commission to take steps towards visa liberalisation as a gradual and long term perspective, in parallel with the signature of the readmission agreement; urges Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay and to ensure that, until this agreement enters into force, existing bilateral agreements are fully implemented; recalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for illegal migration to the EU and underlines the need to intensify cooperation with the EU on migration management, the fight against human trafficking and border controls; stresses once again the importance of facilitatingzation; stresses the need of facilitating beforehand access to the EU for business people, academics, students and representatives of civil society from Turkey; supports the efforts of the Commission and the Member States to implement the visa code, harmonise and simplify visa requirements and create visa facilitating centres in Turkey; Reminds the Member States of their commitments under the association agreement in line with the Soysal Ruling of the European Court of Justice of 19 February 2009urges Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay; welcomes the conclusions adopted by the Council of the Ministers of social policy to launch a visa liberalisation dialogue with Turkey;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3a (new)
Paragraph 3a (new)
3a. Reminds the Member States of their commitment to implement visa exemption under the association agreement in line with the Soysal and Savatli Ruling of the European Court of Justice of 19 February 2009;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3b (new)
Paragraph 3b (new)
3b. Recalls that illegal immigration flows reaching the EU's external borders from Turkey represent a concern; takes into account the steps undertaken by Turkey to prevent and combat these flows in a resolute way; underlines the need to intensify cooperation with the EU on migration management, the fight against human trafficking and border controls;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Commends the Constitution Conciliation Committee for its commitment to a new Constitution and for the inclusive process of consultation of civil society, whicha broad range of stakeholders including political parties not represented in the parliament and non-Muslim minorities, which properly reflected the diversity of Turkish society; encourages the Committee to continue its work and to tackle in a collegial way, and in line with the values of the EU, key issues such as (i) the separation of power and an adequate system of checks and balances, (ii) relations between the State, society and religion, (iii) an inclusive system of governance securing the basic rights of all citizens and (iv) an inclusive concept of citizenship;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a (new)
Paragraph 5a (new)
5a. Calls for clarifications on how the Committee's work will be implemented, taking account of the fact that the current Constitution (Article 175) provides only for the amendment of the existing text;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reaffirms the fundamental role of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) as the centre of Turkey's democratic system and stresses the importance of support and commitment amongst all political parties for the reform process, in particular a valuable legal framework protecting and enhancing fundamental rights for all communities and citizens; commends the work of the Human Rights Inquiry Committee and asks for a more central role of the EU Harmonisation Committee to promote the alignment of new legislation with the acquis or with European standards during the legislative process;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the third judicial reform package as a step towards a comprehensivdopted by the TGNA on 2 July 2012 and its concrete reform process in the areafield of the judiciary and fundamTurkish Pental rights; stresses however the crucial importance to continue the reform process with a fourth judicial reform package addressing (a) the issues related to the excessively broad definitions of criminal offences unCode, Criminal Procedure Code, Anti-Terror Law, Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law, Press Law, the Law on the Council of State, the Administrative Procedural Coder, the Criminal Law orn the Anti-Terror Law, with the urgent need to introduce a clear distinction between the promotion of terrorism and the incitement to violence and the expression of non-violent ideas, in order to safeguard freedom of expression, (b) the issue of the excessively long pre- trial detention periods, and (c) the need to allow full access to the prosecution file for defence lawyerForensic Science Institute, the Law on the Court of Cassation, the Law on Judges and Prosecutors, the Law on Misdemeanours and the Law on Criminal Records, as an important step towards a comprehensive reform process in the area of the judiciary and fundamental rights;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7a (new)
Paragraph 7a (new)
7a. Emphasizes the importance to continue the reform process with a fourth judicial reform package and enact it at the earliest, addressing (a) the issues related to the broad definitions of criminal offences under the Criminal Law or the Anti-Terror Law, with the urgent need to introduce a clear distinction between the promotion of terrorism and the incitement to violence and the expression of non- violent ideas, in order to safeguard freedom of expression (b) the issue of the excessively long pre-trial detention periods, and (c) the need to allow full access to the prosecution file for defence lawyers;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7b (new)
Paragraph 7b (new)
7b. Welcomes the entry into force of the law establishing a Conciliation Committee with a view of creating a domestic remedy to resolve the excessive length of judicial proceedings in line with ECtHR principles;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7c (new)
Paragraph 7c (new)
7c. Welcomes the adoption by the TGNA on the 24th of January 2013 of the "Law Providing for Defence in the Language of Preference" in judicial trials;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that freedom of expression and media pluralism are core European values and that a truly democratic society requires true freedom of expression, including the right of dissent; underlines the importance of abolishingreforming the internet law and improve the freedom of media; underlines the need to eliminate restrictions of Turkish citizen's access to information and reinforce this right; stresses the need to further reform the legislation providing for disproportionately high fines on the media, leading in some cases to their closure or to self-censorship, and the urgent need to reform the internet law;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Fully supports the Commission's new approach to openter into a more intensified dialogue through the opening of the chapters on the judiciary and fundamental rights and on justice and home affairs early on in the negotiation process and to closeing them as the very last ones; stresses that official benchmarks in areas where Turkey needs further improvements would provide a clear roadmap and would give a boost to the reform process; calls therefore on the Council for renewed efforts for the opening of Chapters 23 and 24;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10a (new)
Paragraph 10a (new)
10a. Encourages Turkey to align its legislation with the data protection aquis; stresses that Turkey should ratify both the CoE convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data and the additional protocol on supervisory authorities and trans-border data flow in order to improve EU-Turkey relations in the areas of judicial and police cooperation, counter-terrorism and cyber security;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages Turkey to continue the process of civilian oversight over security forces; calls for an amendment of the Law on Provincial Administrations to give civilian authorities broader oversight of military operations and the Gendarmerie's law enforcement activities; stressunderlines the importance of setting up an independent law enforcement complaints Agency to investigate complaints of human rights abuses, ill-treatment and possible wrongdoing by Turkish law enforcement agencies; welcomes the draft law in the Parliament concerning the Law Enforcement Monitoring Committee aimed at investigating and punishing law enforcement officers involved in criminal acts or unlawful treatment; takes the view that the legal provisions on the composition and powers of the Supreme Military Council need to be reformed;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)
Paragraph 12a (new)
12a. Encourages Turkey to set up the National Prevention Mechanism requested by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, ratified in 2011;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that, in the ‘'sledgehammer’' trial a first instance court sentenced 324 suspects to 13- 20 years; stresses that investigations of alleged coup plans, such as the ‘'Ergenekon’' and ‘'Sledgehammer’' cases, must demonstrate the strength and the proper, independent, impartial and transparent functioning of Turkish democratic institutions and the judiciary, and their firm, unconditional commitment to respect for fundamental rights; is concerned about the allegations regarding the use of inconsistent evidence; regrets that these cases have been overshadowed by concerns about their wide scope and the shortcomings in the proceedings;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Law on the protection of family and prevention of violence against women; commends the National Action Plan to combat Violence against Women (2012-2015) and stressunderlines the need to enforce it effectively nationwide; calls on the Ministry for Family and Social Policies to continue its efforts to increase the number and quality of shelters for women and minors in danger; stresses the importance to provide women who have been victims of violence with concrete alternatives and self-sustainment prospects; urges Turkey to continue to step up its preventive efforts at all levels in the fight against ‘"honour killings’", domestic violence and the phenomenon of forced marriages and child brides; calls on the Ministry to continue to actively promote women's participation in the labour market, which remains low, in politicsal decision making and at senior level in the administration and the private sector, if necessary by foreseeing reserved quotas; welcomes the training of public officials in gender equality;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the urgent need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and the establishment of an anti- discrimination and equality board to protect individuals against discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or sexual identity; welcomes the draft law on anti-discrimination; however expresses concerns regarding the non inclusion of sexual orientation grounds of discrimination in the legislation; in this regard calls on Turkey to adopt an action plan to promote the full equality of rights and full acceptance of LGBT persons;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16a (new)
Paragraph 16a (new)
16a. Welcomes the steps taken towards the inclusion of recognized minorities in the process of drafting a new constitution; considers that Turkey needs to further improve its position on the protection of minorities; in this regard highlights the fact that Turkey has not ratified the European Council's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) nor the Charter for Regional and Minority Languages; expresses concerns on the lack of reliable information concerning the Roma community;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the continued implementation of legislation amending the 2008 lthe Law on fFoundations and broadening the scope of the restoration of the property rights of non-Muslim communities; calls on the relevant authorities to assist the Syriac community in clarifying the difficulties faced with property and land registration; calls for a solution for the large number of properties of the Latin Catholic Church which remain confiscated by the State; recalls the urgent need to continue vital and substantial reform in the area of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, in particular by enabling religious communities to obtain legal personality, by eliminating all restrictions on the training, appointment and succession of clergy, by recognising Alevi places of worships and by complying with the relevant judgments of the ECtHR and the recommendations of the Venice Commission; calls on Turkey to ensure that the Saint Gabriel monastery is not deprived of its lands, and that it is protected in its entiretyits 2008 and 2011 amendments broadening the scope of the restoration of the property rights of non- Muslim communities;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)
Paragraph 17a (new)
17a. Welcomes the concrete actions taken by Turkish institutions to ensure freedom of worship and safer religious services; emphasizes the need to continue reforms in the area of freedom of thought, conscience and religion; is of the opinion that religious communities should be able to obtain legal personality in order to remove existing restrictions; recalls the need to comply with the relevant judgments of the ECtHR and the recommendations of the Venice Commission;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that Turkey continued to demonstrate resilience at the terrorist attacks by the PKK; calls on Turkey to invest renewed efforts towards a political solution to the Kurdish issue; asks all political forces to ensure an adequate political platform and to debate in a constructive way the Kwelcomes the current informal negotiations between the imprisoned leader of the PKK and Turdkish issue and to facilitategovernment aimed at real opening to the claims for basic rights in the Constitutional process; asks all political forces to work in alliance towards the goal of reinforced political dialogue and a process of further political, cultural and socio-economic inclusion and participation of citizens of Kurdish origin, in order to guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly and promote the peaceful inclusion of citizens of Kurdish origin into Turkish society; recalls that a political solution can only be built upon a truly democratic debate on the Kurdish issue and expresses concern atsolving the terrorist threat through political means; highlights that the 3rd Judicial Reform Package has brought encouraging changes to the anti-terror law to solve the issues with the large number of cases launched against writers and journalists writing on the Kurdish issuesubject and the arrest of several Kurdish politicians, mayors and members of municipal councils, trade unionists, lawyers, protestors and human rights defenders in connection with the KCK trial; underlines the importance of promoting a discussion of the Kurdish issue within the democratic institutions, particularly the TGNA;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18a (new)
Paragraph 18a (new)
18a. Calls on Turkey to continue efforts towards finding a political solution to the Kurdish issue; asks all political forces to ensure an adequate political platform and to debate in a constructive way the Kurdish issue and to facilitate a real opening to the claims for basic rights in the Constitutional process; recalls that a political solution can only be built upon a truly democratic debate on the Kurdish issue; underlines the importance of promoting a discussion of the Kurdish issue within the democratic institutions, particularly the TGNA;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18b (new)
Paragraph 18b (new)
18b. Asks all political forces to work in alliance towards the goal of reinforced political dialogue and a process of further political, cultural and socio- economic inclusion and participation of citizens of Kurdish origin, in order to guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly and promote the peaceful inclusion of citizens of Kurdish origin into Turkish society;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the incentives package seeking to increase investment and economic development in the least developed regions of Turkey, including the South East and the continuation of the South East Anatolia project; considers that such investments will provide the incentive for private investors to develop social capital and transform the underdeveloped regions into possible production centres; suggests complementing the incentive package with investments in security, infrastructure and transportation alternatives in the targeted regions;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21a (new)
Paragraph 21a (new)
21a. Stresses the need to address children's rights in the new Constitution and include provisions which ensure respect of the rights of children for protection, better living conditions and prevention from discrimination; stresses the need for Turkey to further improve its compliance with the UN Children's Rights Declaration provisions;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22a (new)
Paragraph 22a (new)
22a. Emphasizes Turkey's obligation to respect Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone as established by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of which EU is a signatory; takes account of the fact that Turkey is not a signatory of said Convention and as such does not consider that it has to take account of its obligations; calls on Turkey to acknowledge that said convention is currently part of the Aquis Communautaire which will have to be fully implemented upon accession;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses once again its strong support to the reunification of Cyprus, based on a fair and viable settlement for both communities; underlines the urgencynecessity to establish a deadline to conclude the negotiations ofn an agreement between the two communities on how to proceed with the substantive settlement negotiations, so that the negotiating process, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, can soon regain momentum; calls on Turkey to begin withdrawing its forces from Cyprus and transfer Famagusta to the UN in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984); calls, 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 allow Turkish Cypriots to trade directly in a legal manner that is acceptable to allasserts that the status quo is no longer viable;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23a (new)
Paragraph 23a (new)
23a. Calls on Turkey to comply with the UNSC Resolution 550(1984) and return the fenced off quarter Varosha to its inhabitants and 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 allow Turkish Cypriots to trade directly in a legal manner that is acceptable to all;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages Turkey to intensifycontinue its support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the importance of a coherent and comprehensive security approach in the Eastern Mediterranean and calls on Turkey to allow political dialogueappreciates Turkey's contributions to CSDP and efforts to enhance the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO by lifting its veto on EU-NATO cooperation including Cyprus, and consequently calls on the Republic of Cyprus to lift its veto on Turkey's participation in the European Defence Agency; ; stresses the importance of Turkey's continued involvement in future CSDP missions, as much of these missions take part in Turkey's geographic proximity and could have security implications for them; underlines the urgency of finding a solution for including Turkey in the CSDP decision-making process; stresses the need for EU to adopt a similar level of inclusiveness and transparency as NATO;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. 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 StateCyprus; recalls that this refusal continues to deeply affect the process of negotiations;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the decision to enhance cooperation between the EU and Turkey on a number of important energy issues and calls on Turkey to commit to continue to commit to this cooperation; believes that, in view of Turkey's strategic role, initial consideration should be given to the value of opening negotiations on Chapter 15 on energy with a view to furthering the EU- Turkey strategic dialogue on energy;