18 Amendments of Bodil VALERO related to 2016/2031(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Deeply regrets that the EU member states in the past missed the opportunity to link Turkey closer to the European Union while the country was making considerable progress and was enacting fundamental and promising reforms towards EU membership; Stresses that modernisation of the Customs Union willcould further strengthen the already strong economic ties between Turkey and the European Union (EU) and willcould keep Turkey economically anchored to the EU; believes that this opportunity to strengthening trade relations which could bring concrete benefits to citizens in Turkey and EU Member States, and also contribute to both sides engaging in a positive reform agenda while mitigating political tensions with Ankara on thehas unfortunately been lost for now and that the drastically deteriorating situation of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the country rule out negotiations for an enhanced Customs Union with Turkey at this point in time;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the adoption of the CU was originally conceived as an intermediate step towards full accession of Turkey into the EU in a relatively short period, and whereas the CU is becoming increasingly less well equipped to address the changing dynamics of global trade integration;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas in November 2016 the European Parliament passed a Resolution 2016/2993 asking for the freezing of the accession talks with Turkey due to the serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law by the Turkish government in recent years, and especially since the failed coup attempt in July 2016; whereas this would entail that no new chapters would be opened and no new initiatives would be undertaken in relation to Turkey’s EU accession, including the enhancement of the Customs Union;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Fourth Report on the Progress made on the Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement notes that seven benchmarks of the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap still need to be met, and that EU Member States issued a total of 862 184 uniform visas to Turkish nationals in 2015, 508 589 of which were multiple- entry uniform visas;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. NoteRecalls that the upgrade of the EU-Turkey trade relations forms an essential part of the efforts made by the EU and Turkey to deepen their relations in key areas of joint interest identified at the EU-Turkey Summit of 29 November 2015 and inin November 2016 the European Parliament passed Resolution 2016/2993 asking for the temporary freeze of the accession talks with Turkey due to the serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law by the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March 2016; states that this is even more important now that the accession talks are stalled despite the significant short- and long-term strategic interests for both the EU as Turkey, such as trade, migration, the fight against terrorism, energy and stability in the neighbourhoodish government in recent years, and especially since the failed coup attempt; concludes that logically no new chapters should be opened and no new initiatives undertaken in relation to Turkey’s EU integration, including the enhancement of the Customs Union;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the European Commission’ 2016 Turkey Report SWD(2016) 366 clearly states in its Chapter 3 “Right to establishment and Freedom to provide services” that, in terms of Turkey’s ability to assume the obligations of membership, preparations are at an early stage on the right of establishment and freedom to provide services and that particular efforts must be made with regards the alignment with the Services Directive on the provision of cross-border services and set up a Point of Single Contact.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Reminds that the European Parliament will base the review of its position on “whether the rule of law and human rights are restored throughout the country”; warns that the constitutional reforms adopted by the Turkish Parliament on 21 January 2017 which could be confirmed by popular vote in an upcoming referendum, would seal the end to a democratic system of checks and balances in the country;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the growing geopolitical and economic challenges facing Turkey as a result of instability in its neighbourhood, civil war, terrorism and the aftermath of the coup attempt of 15 July 2016;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the fact that Turkish regulatory alignment with EU standards resulting from the conclusion of the Customs Union has made the country more competitive; believes that the modernisation of the Customs Union would provide an opportunity for Turkey to revisit its growth model and escape from the ‘middle income (country) trap’; welcomes the factconsiders that the deepening of the Customs Union willcould have a positive influence on Turkey’s economic governance and strengthen Turkey’s independent regulatory institutions;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to include political benchmarks in the upgraded Customs Union between Turkey and the EU on human rights and fundamental freedoms.Insists that no actions to accelerate the accession process, including the modernisation of the CU, should be taken until the situation in Turkey has improved considerably; considers that this should also include the halt of returning refugees to Turkey under the EU-Turkey Statement on Migration;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. ConsiderAcknowledges that visa-free travel or the creation of a long-term multiple- entry visa for business travellers would have a positive impact on bilateral trade.
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that to dateStresses that Turkey has nomust fulfilled 7 out of 72 all the benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap and recalls the need for Turkey to meet all 72 benchmarks before an update of the Customs Union in the field of services can take place; considerin order for Turkish citizens to be granted visa-free travel to the EU, regardless of the modernisation process of the CU; Underlines that the criteria for visa liberalisation should never be bent for political or any other reasons.
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Regrets that the breaches of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law that led this Parliament to ask for the freezing of the accession talks still persist in Turkey; insists that no actions envisaged to accelerate the accession process, including the modernisation of the CU, should be taking place until the situation is redressed; considers that this should also include the halt of returning refugees to Turkey under the EU-Turkey Statement on Migration
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7 e. Considers that, taking into account the assessment carried out by the European Commission in its 2016 Turkey Report, Turkey still needs to undertake substantial efforts in order to align further with the "acquis communautaire" before the modernisation of the Customs Union can become a reality.
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7 f. Concludes that the modernisation of the Customs Union between the EU and Turkey should be postponed to a later stage and should not be resumed until all the necessary, technical and legal conditions are meet and the political situation in Turkey has improved considerably.