Activities of Demetris PAPADAKIS related to 2021/2250(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2021 Report on Turkey (debate)
Amendments (52)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
— having regard to the Negotiating Framework for Turkey of 3 October 2005, and to the fact that, as it is the case for all candidate countries, Turkey’s accession to the EU depends on full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, and to the need to normalize its relations with all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— 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 Member States, by removing all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport, without prejudice and discrimination,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
— having regard to the Council Conclusions of 2018, 2019 and 2021 to the effect that the accession negotiations effectively have come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing and no further work towards the modernisation of the EU- Turkey Customs Union is foreseen,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
— having regard to the Council conclusions of 26 June 2018 and 18 June 2019 on enlargement and stabilisation and association process, to the Council conclusions of 15 July and 14 October 2019 on Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, to the European Council conclusions of 12 December 2019, 1-2 and 15-16 October 2020, to the Statement of the EU foreign ministers of 15 May 2020 and the main results of their videoconference of 14 August 2020 on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, to the outcome of the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Gymnich of 27-28 August 2020, to the Statement of the Members of the European Council of 25 March 2021 on the Eastern Mediterranean, to the European Council’s conclusions of 24 June 2021 and 1 October 2020, and to all previous relevant Council and European Council conclusions,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the restrictive measures framework established by the EU on 11 November 2019, as a response to Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, which was renewed on 12 November 2020 and 12 November 2021,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the EU- Turkey Readmission Agreement,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
— having regard to the relevant resolutions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, including the interim resolution of 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Kavala against Turkey, the interim resolution of 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Selahattin Demirtaş v Turkey (No. 2), and the interim resolution of 2 February 2022 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Kavala against Turkey and the interim resolution of 16th September 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Cyprus v. Turkey,
Amendment 32 #
— having regard to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on Cyprus, including resolution 550 (1984) of 11 May 1984 on secessionist actions in Cyprus and resolution 789 (1992) of 25 November 1992 which consider attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible, and call for the transfer of that area to the administration of the United Nations, urging all concerned in the Cyprus question to commit themselves to the confidence-building measures set out in the resolution,
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 26 November 2020 on escalating tensions in Varosha following the illegal actions by Turkey and the urgent need for the resumption of talks,1a _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2020)0332.
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 b (new)
Citation 9 b (new)
— having regard to Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights, 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 therefore to the obligation of Turkey to implement all judgments of the European courts, including the ECtHR,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Turkey, besides being as candidate for EU accession, is a key partner in relation to the economy, trade and migration, as well as a strategic partnerexpected to respect and uphold the Copenhagen criteria, to uphold the highest standards of democracy, respect of human rights and the rule of law, to comply with the international law and international conventions acceded to by the EU, to pursue and maintain good neighbourly relations with the EU and all its Member States indiscriminately and to peacefully settle all disputes having resource, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in the aftermath of recent tensions between the EU and Turkey, particularly in relation to the situafollowing its provocative actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, the European Council offered to nurture a more positive dynamic in EU-Turkey relations by expressinged readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner in a number of areas of common interest, provided a sustainable de-escalation, a constructive engagement in a dialogue based on international law and other conditionalities established in previous European Council conclusions;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingness to progressively approachlign in all aspects the values, interests, standards and policies of the EU; whereas an analysis of the EU’s reports in recent years reveal that Turkey’s distance from the EU’s values and its normative framework is still considerable and is even growing in fundamental areas such as the rule of law and human right, the respect of human rights and good neighbourly relations;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas Turkey does not intend to follow the EU sanctions imposed to Russia following its illegal invasion to Ukraine;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its concern about the persistent distance between the EU and Turkey, despite it being a candidate country, in terms of values and standards, and the continuing lack of political will to have good neighbourly relations with the EU Member States and to carry out the necessary reforms to address, in particular, the serious concerns about the rule of law and, fundamental rights that continue to negatively affect the accession process; considers that without clear progress in this field, Parliament cannot envisage any resumption of accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018; recalls that the accession process is and will remain a merit-based process fully dependent on the objective progress achieved by each country;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its firm conviction that Turkeyfor the development of a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship with Turkey, as it is a country of strategicignificant relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a partner that is keyn important partner for the stability of the wider region, and an ally with which the EU wishes to pursue the best possible relations; welcomes, in this viewdeplores the fact that Turkey remains a source of instability; welcomes, the recent statements expressed at the highest level by the Turkish authorities about the recommitment of the Turkish Government to the EU path, but urges the Turkish authorities to put their words into action and demonstrate this commitment with specific facts and decisions; Recalls the European Council's position to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner, under the condition that the latter would stop its provocations against EU and its Member States and the there is tangible improvement in the area of fundamental freedoms and rule of law; it is of the position that these conditions have not been yet met;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that the allocation of EU funds is conditional on the respect for the rule of law, democratic values, human rights, European and international law; due to Turkey's backsliding in all these areas, reiterates its position that all the funds allocated under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and relevant programmes of the NDICI - Global Europe instrument to be directly managed by the EU in order to support Turkey's civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, and to increase opportunities for people-to-people contacts, academic dialogue and media platforms for journalists with the objective of protecting and promoting democratic values and principles, human rights and the rule of law and that no actions organised by the Turkish state should get financed by the EU budget as long as the situation does not significantly improve;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that the crucial area of fundamental rights and freedoms, which is at the core of the accession process, cannot be disconnected and isolated from overall relations with the EU and stresses that for Parliament, it remains the main obstacle together with the need to respect international law and good neighbourly relations to further progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that the crucial area of fundamental rights and freedoms, which is at the core of the accession process, cannot be disconnected and isolated from overall relations with the EU and stresses that for Parliament, it remains one of the main obstacles to further progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Deplores the fact that the Venice Commission recommendations on the status of religious communities in Turkey have yet to be implemented; reiterates its call on Turkey to respect the importance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Orthodox Christians all over the world, to recognise its legal personality and the public use of the ecclesiastical title of the Ecumenical Patriarch; stresses the need to eliminate restrictions on the training, appointment and succession of clergy, to allow the reopening of the Halki Seminary and lift all obstacles for its proper functioning;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Regrets that the Treasury has appealed favourable decisions for the restitution of properties according to the Law on Foundations and most of the appeals against rejected claims are still pending either before local courts or at ECHR; notes with concern the hate speech and crimes against minorities, as well as the acts of vandalisms and the destruction of minority worship places and cemeteries; urges the Turkish authorities to effectively prosecute the offenders and to properly protect all religious minorities; regrets that a new electoral regulation for non-Muslim foundations, following its annulment in 2013, is still to be published, which has created serious problems to proper administration of these foundations, as no elections can take place; notes that despite a ruling from an administrative court to overrule the decision to annul the electoral regulation, the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals ruled that it is up to the Council of State to decide;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Reiterates the need for Turkey to fully implement all recommendations of the Council of Europe Resolution 1625(2008) with particular emphasis on the restitution of property rights of the Greek Orthodox population and its foundations on the islands of Imvros and Tenedos; inheritance rights and adopt all necessary positive discrimination measures for assisting the repatriation of all minority families who wish to return to the islands; underlines the need to preserve the bicultural character of the islands;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Reiterates relevant ECtHR decisions and calls on the Turkish Government to immediately stop the violation of the human rights of the Cypriot citizens and stop depriving them of the enjoyment and exercise of their property, religious and other human rights stemming from the constitutional order of the Republic of Cyprus and the acquis communautaire, as well as the fundamental principles and values of the EU;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on Turkey to cooperate with the EU and the Council of Europe and its relevant bodies on deep and urgent reforms in these areas and in addressing their key recommendations, and fully implement all judgements of the European Court of Human Rights in line with Article 46 of the ECHR, as well as the payment of just satisfaction awarded by the ECtHR, an unconditional obligation deriving from Turkey’s membership of the Council of Europe;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 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 within Turkey and the occupied part of Cyprus; stresses the importance of pursuing dialogue with relevant international organisations and the EU on the preservation of cultural and religious heritage;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Commends the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting the largest refugee population in the world; welcomes, in this regard, the continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustain this support in the future; calls on Turkey to ensure the full and non-discriminatory implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement of 2016, including vis-à-vis the Republic of Cyprus, as well as to resume the readmission of returnees from the Greek islands interrupted in March 2020, and Turkey’s obligation to take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for irregular migration opening from Turkey to the EU, and its will to cooperate with neighbouring states as well as the EU to this effect and with fundamental rights as part of its implementation process;
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Commends the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting the largest refugee population in the world; welcomes, in this regard, the continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustain this support in the future; underlines the need to respect fundamental rights of refugees and migrants and condemns any efforts to instrumentalise them; calls Turkey to fully implement the Joint EU- Turkey Statement and the EU - Turkey Readmission Agreement towards all Member States, as well as existing bilateral readmission agreements and provisions, following its unilateral decision to suspend them in March 2020;
Amendment 391 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Strongly condemns the Turkish military intervention in Syria, which violates international law and undermines the stability and the security of the whole region; calls on Turkey to end its illegal occupation of Norther Syria and Afrin and reiterates that security concerns cannot justify military action in a foreign country;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Stresses that visa liberalisation will be possible once all the criteria have been fully and effectively met in a non- discriminatory manner towards all member-states;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Calls on Turkey to commit to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Libya under the auspices of the UN, to stop its efforts to derail the Berlin process, to withdraw all foreign fighters and to fully adhere to the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council; regrets that Turkey has denied the personnel of EUNAVFOR MED Irini to inspect ships travelling from Turkey to Libya and recalls that EU; recalls that all candidate countries should align their foreign policy with the EU’s foreign and security policy and not to actively work against it; Strongly condemns the signature of the two Memorandums of Understanding between Turkey and Libya on the delimitation of maritime zones and on comprehensive security and military cooperation, which are interconnected and in clear violation of the sovereign rights of EU Member States, the international law and the UN Security Council resolution imposing an arms embargo on Libya;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Regrets that the current Customs Union will not achieve its full potential until Turkey fully and effectively implements the Additional Protocol in relation to all Member States including the Republic of Cyprus in a non- discriminatory manner, which is a prerequisite for the opening of the negotiations for the upgrading;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21 c. Reiterates its call on Turkey to comply with the EU declaration issued on September 21, 2005 and 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, of Customs Union and of every agreement between the EU and Turkey and calls for progress without any further delay;
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Acknowledges that Turkey can pursue its own foreign policy in line with its interests and goals, but expects this policy to be defended through diplomacy and dialogue based on international law and, as a candidate country, to be increasingly aligned with that of the EUnot to go against the interests of the EU and its Member States, to fully respect the sovereign rights and to stop all provocative actions and rhetoric against EU Member States and to be increasingly aligned with that of the EU; deplores Turkey's decision not to impose any sanctions to Russia following the illegal invasion of Ukraine;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Regrets that as a result of Turkey’s instrumentalization of refugees a continuing increase in asylum applications was registered in Cyprus in 2021; notes that pending the full and effective implementation of the EU- Turkey Readmission Agreement vis-à-vis all Member States, existing bilateral readmission agreements and provisions in similar agreements and arrangements with EU Member States should be adequately implemented; underlines that cooperation in the area of justice and home affairs with all EU Member States remains essential;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Deplores the negative and destabilising role of Turkey, threatening regional peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and South Caucasus and its role in conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Libya;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Deplores Turkey’s continuing refusal to comply with aviation law and establish a channel of communication between air traffic control centres in Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus the absence of which entails real safety risks and dangers for the European passengers as identified by the European Aviation Safety Agency and International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations and call on Turkey to collaborate by respecting the EU aviation law; takes the view that this could be an area where Turkey could prove its commitment to confidence-building measures and calls on Turkey to collaborate by fully implementing EU aviation law;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes theDeplores that despite efforts to decrease inthe tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean during the past year, butthese were not sustained due to Turkey's actions and remains fully aware that these positive dynamics could be reversed at any moment while the underlying issues remain unresolved; condemns, in this regard, the continuous harassment and hindrance by Turkish warships of research vessels from performing surveys on the potential route of the East Med Pipeline, which is an energy project of EU Common Interest (PCI), within the EEZ/continental shelf of Member States; calls on Turkey to respect the sovereignty of all EU Member States over their territorial sea and airspace as well as their sovereign rights, including inter alia the right to explore and exploit natural resources, in accordance with EU and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is part of the EU acquis; supports the invitation by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to Turkey to negotiate in good faith and in line with international law the maritime delimitation between their relevant coasts, or have recourse, to the International Court of Justice, and calls on Turkey to accept Cyprus’ invitation;
Amendment 444 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. WelcomeDeplores that despite initial indications towards the decrease in tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea during the past year, but remains fully aware that these positive dynamics could be reversed at any moment while the underlying issues remain unresolvedit was not materialised because of the continuous Turkish provocations; strongly condemns the revisionist rhetoric and actions against the Greek sovereignty over specific islands in the Aegean Sea as it is stated in recent statements of Turkish officials and Ministers and in two letters of the Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN in July and September 2021;
Amendment 449 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. strongly condemns continuous Turkey's illegal activities in Greek and Cypriot waters as well as its violations of the Greek national airspace, including overflights of inhabited areas and its territorial sea which violate both the sovereign rights of Greece and the international law; reiterates its regrets that the casus belli declared by the Turkish Grand National Assembly against Greece in 1995 remains valid and is repeated in relation to the possible extension of the Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea; express its full solidarity with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus; reiterates its call on Turkey to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is part of the EU aquis; urges Turkey to engage in peaceful negotiation for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zones and the continental shelf in both the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, in good faith, fully respecting international law and the principle of good neighbourly relations, having recourse if necessary to the International Court of Justice;
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Continues to urge Turkey to unequivocally commit to good neighbourly relations, international agreements and to the peaceful settlement of disputes, having recourse, if necessary to the International Court of Justice and to refrain from any unilateral action or threats;
Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. expresses its concern on the illegal Turkish fishing activities within Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea and the unregulated and unreported fishing activities of Turkish fishing fleets in international waters in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean;
Amendment 458 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23 c. Reiterates that the European Council of 1 and 2 October 2020 recalled to Turkey that the EU will use all the instruments and the options at its disposal, including of imposing a sanctions’ regime on Turkey , in accordance with Article 29 TEU and Article 215 TFEU, in order to defend its interests and those of its Member State; recalls the Council Conclusions of 14 October 2019 calling the Member States to take strong national positions regarding their arms export policy to Turkey on the basis of the provisions of Common position 2008/944/CFSP, including the strict application of criterion 4 on regional stability and calls to consider the introduction of an initiative in the Council for all EU Member States to halt arms export licensing to Turkey in accordance with this Common Position; reiterates its call in that respect, on the VP/HR for as long as Turkey continues with its current illegal, unilateral actions in the Eastern Mediterranean that run counter to the sovereignty of any EU Member State and international law, makes revisionist claims against the sovereign rights of EU Member States and threatens their territorial integrity, to introduce an initiative in the Council for all EU Member States to halt arms export for all types of military equipment, including weapons, weapons for dual-use goods and know-how, to Turkey in accordance with the Common Position;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. DeploRegrets the fact that the unresolved conflict in CypruCyprus problem remains unresolved and reiterates its a major obstacle to EU-Turkey relations; reaffirms its view that the only sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue is that ofcall on Turkey, to commit and contribute to a comprehensive settlement in line with United Nations Security Council relevant resolutions; reiterates its support for a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement onf the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality and political equality, in accordance withCyprus problem within the UN framework and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, international law and oin the basis of respect forline with the EU acquis and the principles on which the Union is founded; deeply regrets that Turkey has abandoned thise agreed UN framework; condemns in this regard statements by Turkish President and Turkish Cypriot leader, imposed by Turkey upon the Turkish Cypriots, calling for a two-state solution in Cyprus;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Reiterates its call on the Turkish Government to halt its plans for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which will be located in a region prone to severe earthquakes, therefore posing a major threat not only to Turkey, but also to the Mediterranean region; recalls that Russia and Turkey signed a Cooperation Agreement providing for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and therefore asks for the inclusion of the construction of Akkuyu nuclear plant in the EU sanctions list against Russia following the later's military invasion of Ukraine; requests, accordingly, that the Turkish Government join the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), which commits its parties to notifying and consulting each other about major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across borders; asks the Turkish Government, to this end, to involve or at least consult the governments of its neighbouring countries in relation to any further developments in the Akkuyu venture;
Amendment 491 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Strongly condemns the partial illegal reopening of Varosha , which undermines mutual trust and therefore the prospect of the resumption of direct talks on the comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus issue, by changing the situation on the ground for the worse, exacerbating division and embedding the permanent partition of Cyprus; warns against any change of the status quo in Varosha in violation of the UNSC resolutions; calls on Turkey to reverse this action and avoid any other unilateral action that could raise further tensions on the island, in compliance with the recent call of the UNSC; calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, to transfer the Varosha area to its lawful inhabitants under the temporary administration of the UN in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984) and to refrain from actions altering the demographic balance on the island through a policy of illegal settlements;
Amendment 501 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24 c. Praises the important work of the bi-communal Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and calls on the Turkish authorities to advance their efforts to provide the CMP proprio motu and without delay with all information at their disposal relating to burial sites and any other places where remains might be found, including information in military archives;
Amendment 508 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24 d. Condemns the repeated attempts by Turkey to intimidate and gag Turkish Cypriot journalists and progressive citizens in the Turkish Cypriot community, thus violating their right to freedom of opinion and expression;
Amendment 522 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Insists that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights and the need for good neighbourly relations in line with international law should remain at the heart of EU-Turkey relations under any framework; reaffirms its support for keeping the accession process and its value-based approach as the main framework for EU-Turkey relations, as it is still the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure and sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society; nevertheless remains open to the possibility of both sides reviewing, in a realistic manner, the appropriateness of this framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, exploring other possible models for future relations;
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Insists that democracy, the rule of law and, fundamental rights and the need for good neighbourly relations should remain at the heart of EU-Turkey relations under any framework; reaffirms its support for keeping the accession process and its value-based approach as the main framework for EU-Turkey relations, as it is still the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure and sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society; nevertheless remains open to the possibility of both sides reviewing, in a realistic manner, the appropriateness of this framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, exploring other possible models for future relations;
Amendment 541 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that the current state of ‘conflictual cooperation’ in EU-Turkey relations is prone to producing unsatisfactory results; calls for a rebalancing of the relationship by building on the solid grounds for cooperation driven by mutual interests, and also by building confidence to address the lack of trust; believes that an orderly dispute settlement mechanism may be beneficial in such an overall framework and calls on the Commission to explore the creation of such a mechanism;