30 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2016/2308(INI)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 24 April 2017 to reopen the monitoring procedure in respect of Turkey over serious concerns about respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the fact that Turkey is assessed as being in 155th place in the World Press Freedom Index, published on 26 April 2017, ranked lower than ever before and as one of the countries where journalists suffered the most threats, physical attacks, judicial harassment, including detention and prison sentences,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
- having regard to the fact that Turkey has been admirably hospitable to the large number of refugees living in the country,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that 2016 was a difficult year for Turkey’s population as a result of the continuing war in Syria, the high numbers of refugees, a string of heinous terror attacks, and a violent coup attempt in which 248 people were killed; reiterates its strong condemnation of the coup attempt of 15 July and expresses its solidarity with the people of Turkey; recognises the right and the responsibility of the Turkish government to take action in bringing the perpetrators to justice, with respect for the rule of law and the right to a fair trial;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines, however, that measures taken under the state of emergency had large-scale, disproportionate and long- lasting negative effects on the protection of fundamental freedoms in the country; condemns the collective dismissal of civil servants, the mass liquidation of media outlets, the arrests of journalists, academics, judges, human rights defenders, elected officials and ordinary citizens, and the confiscation of property and passports on the basis of emergency decree laws without individualised decisions, and without the possibility of timely judicial review; expresses deep concern about the respect for the rule of law and human rights in this context;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the strategic importance of good EU-Turkey relations for both sides; recognises that both Turkey and the EU have gone through their own internal transformation processes since the accession negotiations were opened in 2004; regrets that the accession instruments have not been used to the fullest extent and that, over the years, Turkey’s full integration into the EU has lost public support on both sides; remains committed to cooperating and maintaining an open dialogue with the Turkish Government, in order to address common challenges; recommends that the Council urgently invite the Turkish Government to a summit to discuss the obvious crisis in EU-Turkey relations that we are faced with;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the strategic importance of good EU-Turkey relations for both sides; recognises that both Turkey and the EU have gone through their own internal transformation processes since the accession negotiations were opened in 2004; regrets that the accession instruments have not been used to the fullest extent in making progress towards the Copenhagen criteria and that, over the years, Turkey’s full integration into the EU has lost public support on both sides; remains committed to cooperating and maintaining an constructive and open dialogue with the Turkish Government, in order to address common challenges; recommends that the Council urgently invite the Turkish Government to a summit to discuss the obvious crisis in EU-Turkey relations that we are faced with;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes note of the outcome of the referendum that took place on 16 April 2017, held under the state of emergency and in circumstances that prevented a fair campaign; takes the electoral fraud allegations by the opposition and OSCE mission findings seriously; supports an independent evaluation of all claims regarding irregularities; notes the remarks of the Venice Commission on the constitutional reform, and underlines that the proposed constitutional amendments do not respect the fundamental principles of the separation of powers and sufficient checks and balances, and are not in line with the Copenhagen criteria;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. CReiterates its calls on the Commission and the Member States to suspend the accession talks with Turkey if, as long as systematic violations of the rule of law, due process and human rights persist; similarly, when the constitutional reform package is implemented unchangedremains unchanged and is implemented in its current form, Turkey no longer meets the Copenhagen political criteria as regards democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to suspformally end the accession talks with Turkey if the constitutional package is implemented unchanged, as Turkey no longer meets the Copenhagen political criteria as regards democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls for the current stalled accession negotiation process to be replaced with a renewed political engagement between the EU and Turkey on economic cooperation, including issues such as deepening the Customs Union and visa free travel but also on shared geopolitical challenges such as the ongoing civil war in Syria and the fight against Daesh, and refugee and migration related issues; underlines that the new EU-Turkey relations could be established on the basis of a new Association Agreement and should contain conditionality provisions on respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, but also aim at increasing people-to-people contacts, such as student exchanges, scientific and university cooperation and visa liberalisation;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Expects the accession negotiation process to be replaced with a renewed political engagement between the EU and Turkey on economic cooperation, including issues such as deepening the Customs Union but also on shared geopolitical challenges such as the ongoing civil war in Syria and the fight against Daesh, as well as on refugee and migration related issues; underlines that any new EU-Turkey relations should be built on conditionality provisions on respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, but also aim at increasing people-to-people contacts, such as student exchanges, scientific and university cooperation and visa liberalisation;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Points out that Turkey must abide by its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and that a meaningful relationship with Turkey will be impossible, if the death penalty is re- introduced; calls on Turkey to remain in compliance with its Council of Europe commitments and to implement constitutional and judicial changes and reforms in cooperation with and according to the criteria of the Venice Commission;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Points out that Turkey must abide by its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and that any deepening of the EU's contractual relationship with Turkey will be impossible, if the death penalty is re- introduced; calls on Turkey to remain in compliance with its Council of Europe commitments and to implement constitutional and judicial changes and reforms in cooperation with the Venice Commission;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Underlines that if a referendum on the introduction of capital punishment is organised in Turkey, no voting should be allowed to be organised in EU Member States, stresses that there is no place for campaigning events or big rallies in favour of the death penalty to be organised inside the European Union;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that measures undertaken following the declaration of the state of emergency have targeted alleged members/supporters of the Gülen movement, dissent in general and political parties of the opposition in particular; strongly condemns the imprisonment of 13 MPs belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), including its co-chairs, and of 90 Kurdish municipal mayors; urges the Turkish Government to lift the state of emergency immediately; underlines that the reintroduction of the death penalty would violate Turkey’s international commitments and lead to an immediate end to the EU accession talks;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that disproportionate measures undertaken following the declaration of the state of emergency have targeted alleged members/supporters of the Gülen movement, dissent in general and political parties of the opposition in particular; strongly condemns the imprisonment of 13 MPs belonging to the People’'s Democratic Party (HDP), including its co-chairs, and of 90 Kurdish municipal mayors; urges the Turkish Government to lift the state of emergency immediately; underlines that the reintroduction of the death penalty would violate Turkey’s international commitments and lead to an immediate end to the EU accession talks;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Underline that the Turkish Grand National Assembly should be the central institution in Turkish democracy, and represent all citizens on equal terms, regrets the high electoral threshold as a distortion of true political representativity;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Underlines that the Turkish Grand National Assembly should be the central institution in Turkish democracy, and represent all citizens on equal terms, regrets the high electoral threshold;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Is concerned about the weakening of safeguards against abuse in detention and by increased reports of torture and ill- treatment in police detention; urges the Turkish authorities to thoroughly investigate the matters without further delay and to allow international observers to monitor detention facilities;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomesCalls for the deepening of EU- Turkey relations in key areas of joint interest, such as counter-terrorism, migration, energy, the economy and trade; believes EU-Turkey cooperation in these areas to be an investment in the stability and prosperity of both Turkey and the EU but should always be rooted in respect for the rule of law and universal human rights;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomesCalls for the deepening of EU- Turkey relations in key areas of joint interest, such as counter-terrorism, migration, energy, the economy and trade; believes EU-Turkey cooperation in these areas towill be an investment in the stability and prosperity of both Turkey and the EU;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to take into account the latest developments in Turkey wpresent a plan on how to replace then conducting the mid-term review of theurrent Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds in 2017, and to suspend all pre-accession funds if Turkey no longer sufficiently complies with the EU’s Copenhagen criteria; calls on the Commission to use those funds to support Turkish civil societyby a more targeted and tailor- made fund for the support of Turkish civil society, the rule of law, democracy and judicial reforms and to invest more in people-to-people exchange programmes, such as Erasmus+ for students;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to take ipresento account the latest developments in Turkey when conducting the mid-term review of plan to redirect the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA) funds in 2017, and to suspend all pre-accession funds if Turkey no longer sufficiently complies with 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 studentslight of recent developments, to support of Turkish civil society, the rule of law, democracy and judicial reforms through the EIDHR as well as investing in exchange programs and Erasmus+;
Amendment 286 #
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 if Turkey no longer sufficiently complies with the EU’s Copenhagen criteria; calls on the Commission to use those funds directly to support Turkish civil society and to invest more in people-to-people exchange programmes, such as Erasmus+ for students;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Warns against the abuse of anti- terror measures to legitimize the repression of human rights;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls for a closer cooperation and coordination and strategic alignment of foreign policy challenges between the EU and Turkey; is of the opinion that the Turkish Foreign Minister should be invited to attend foreign affairs Council meetings on a case by case basis when appropriate given Turkey's geostrategic position and membership of NATO;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls for a closer cooperation and coordination and strategic alignment of foreign policy challenges between the EU and Turkey; is of the opinion that the Turkish Foreign Minister should be invited to attend foreign affairs Council meetings on a case by case basis given Turkey's geostrategic position;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Recalls Turkey's strategic importance for EU's energy security as a key transit country, particularly considering the EU's strained relations with Russia, which is the EU's main gas provider; points to the three Southern Gas Corridor projects approved at the end of 2013, which will enhance the security of gas supply for Turkey and access to the EU as the main energy market; takes the view that in a context of increasingly competing energy markets and the need for diversified energy sources, Turkey, with its high potential of renewables, could provide an important contribution to the EU's energy security and its ambitions regarding energy diversification;
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Calls for translation of this report into Turkish;