Activities of Fabio Massimo CASTALDO related to 2019/2176(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2019-2020 Reports on Turkey (debate)
Amendments (18)
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingness to progressively approach in all aspects the values, interests, standards and policiesprogressive alignment to the EU acquis, the respect of EU values and standards as well as a foreign policy which is not in contrast with that of the EU;Union
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned that, over the years, the lack of progress in Turkey’s convergence has now transformed into a full withdrawal, marked by a stark regression in three main areas: backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights, adopting regressive institutional reforms and pursuing a confrontational foreign policy; is further concerned by the fact that this regression has increasingly been accompanied by an explicit and aggressive anti-EU narrative; calls, in this context, on Turkey to reassess the sincerity of its commitment to the EU path, as an indispensable component of the viability of the entire accession process;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is appalled by the serious backsliding on fundamental freedoms revealing the dire human rights situation in Turkey and the continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law; notes that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a controversial legislative package provided for the conditional release of up to 90,000 prisoners excluding however those held in pre-trial detention for alleged terrorism- related offences, including lawyers, journalists, politicians and human rights defenders, as they are not eligible for early release under these measures;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with deep concern that, despite the formal lifting of the state of emergency in July 2018, its impact on democracy and fundamental rights continues to be strongly felt, including in the continued misuse of terrorism charges, the arbitrary passport cancellations and the undue profiling by the authorities of dismissed public sector workers;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Deeply regrets that this repressive form of rule has now become a deliberate, relentless, systematic state policy, which extends to any critical activities, such as Kurdish activism, alleged participants of the Gulen movement, peaceful protests held by former public sector workers and women’s rights activists, or even to events that took place prior to the attempted coup, such as the Gezi protests;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses serious concern about the disproportionate and arbitrary measures curtailing freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information, a tendency which was reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic; reminds that Turkey continues to be among the worst jailer of journalists and media workers worldwide; urges Turkey to guarantee media freedom as a matter of priority and to review its legislation in this regard, including article 299 of its criminal code (insulting the president) which is consistently abused to persecute writers, reporters, columnists and editors ;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes with great concern the way that the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has been specifically and continuously targeted by the Turkish authorities; strongly condemns the continued detention of former HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş; and Figen Yüksekdağ and of other democratically elected People’s Democratic Party members of parliament, elected mayors and thousands of its administrators and members; underlines that the European Court of Human rights found Mr Demirtaş detention in violation of Article 18 of the European Convention and urge the Turkish government comply with the decision of the court and release him
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on Turkey to release all imprisoned human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, academics and others who have been detained on unsubstantiated charges and to enable them to carry out their work without threat or impediment in all circumstances; strongly condemns the re-arrest and continued detention of Osman Kavala, and Ahmet Altan, two prominent civil society figures;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Turkey to effectively investigate allegations of torture and ill- treatment in police custody or in prison and allegations of enforced disappearances
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges Turkey to protect the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups, including women, LGBTI people and ethnic and religious minorities; condemns the pervasive hate-speech against LGBTI people, especially when done by high-level political and religious figures; condemns the lack of proper investigation, prosecution and sanction of hate speech, both online and offline, and of hate crime; calls on authorities and officials to firmly condemn all acts of violence and hate speech against minorities and vulnerable groups and to investigate and prosecute them effectively;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Urges the Turkish authorities to end the protracted bans on Pride marches in several cities; calls on the Turkish authorities to ensure that the right to freedom of assembly and association, as enshrined in Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, can be effectively enjoyed, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, in respect of the recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe;1a _________________ 1a https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_det ails.aspx?ObjectID=09000016805cf40a
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Notes with concern the constant rise of femicide in Turkey and the government poor track record in the implementation of the Istanbul Convention as well as the suggestions by some politicians from President Erdogan's ruling party that Turkey should withdraw from it
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Expresses concern about the reported deportation of Uighurs by way of third countries to China where they are likely to face grave persecution
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Condemns President Erdogan unacceptable rhetoric and personal attacks against EU Members States representatives that create a dangerous spiral of confrontation which is not helpful nor conductive to constructive dialogue, especially on sensitive topics and issues that concerns all EU and Turkish citizens such as terrorist threats and radicalization
Amendment 478 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls the laudable role played by Turkey in responding to the migration crisis resulting from the war in Syria; takes the view that the EU should continue to give the necessary support to Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey; supports an objective assessment of the EU-Turkey Statement and underlines the importance of both parties’ compliance with their respective commitments; is worried nevertheless by the constant use of migrants as leverage towards the EU by president Erdogan
Amendment 512 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses that a modernisation of the Customs Union could be beneficial for both parties and would keep Turkey economically and normatively anchored to the EU; reiterates that this would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and fundamental freedoms; highlights that it seems unrealistic to envisage any modernisation of the Customs Union given the current circumstancehighlights that it seems unrealistic to envisage any modernisation of the Customs Union given the current circumstances; reiterates that any proposal to modernise the Custom Union should be preceded by significative transformation in Turkey and would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and fundamental freedoms; recalls that the current Customs Union will not achieve its full potential until Turkey fully implements the Additional Protocol in relation to all Member States;
Amendment 606 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on Turkey to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Libya under the auspices of the UN, and to fully adhere to the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council and to not assume a confrontational attitude towards the EU mandated operation IRINI which operates in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 2292 and 2526, which are binding for all UN Members States, including the Republic of Turkey;
Amendment 620 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Regrets that, rather than calling for an end to the violence and for a resumption of peaceful negotiations supporting the efforts of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Turkey instead decided to unconditionally sustain the military actions of one of the sides in the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, including by reportedly, and unlawfully, sending its own military personnel as well as Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan and deploying its military drones; calls on Turkey to refrain from taking any initiative that may bring further instability to the region and to take on a constructive role in de- escalating tensions instead;