55 Amendments of Loucas FOURLAS related to 2022/2205(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the negotiating framework for Turkey of 3 October 2005, and the fact that, as with all accession countries, Turkey’s accession to the EU depends on full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, and to the need to normalise its relations with all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1894 of 11 November 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, as most recently renewed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2186 of 8 November 2022
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Türkiye, in particular those of 7 June 2022 on the 2021 Commission Report on Turkey1 and of 19 May 2021 on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Turkey2 and of 26 November 2020 on escalating tensions in Varosha following the illegal actions by Turkey, _________________ 1 OJ C 493, 27.12.2022, p. 2. 2 OJ C 15, 12.1.2022, p. 81.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Türkiye remains a candidate for EU accession, a NATO ally and a key trade and economic partner, as well as a key partner on migration;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Russian war of aggression continues to cause unprecedented geopolitical shifts in Europe; whereas Türkiye’s key location allows it to play an instrumental, strategicmportant role in the events;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, in the aftermath of tensions between the EU and Turkey, particularly in relation to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the European Council expressed readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner in a number of areas of common interest provided that the de-escalation is sustained and that Turkey engages constructively, and subject to the established conditionalities set out in previous European Council conclusions;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds Türkiye that, as a candidate country, it is required to align itself with the EU acquis in all aspects, including values, interests, standards and policies, to respect and uphold the Copenhagen criteria, to align with EU policies and objectives, and to pursue and maintain good neighbourly relations with the EU and all its Member States without discrimination;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Regrets that, during the reporting period, limited or no progress at all has been registered in most fields. There was serious backsliding in key areas such as democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the press and the judiciary. In the field of good neighbourly relations, Türkiye’s aggression against Greece reached unprecedented levels up until the devastating earthquakes of February 2023;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Regrets Türkiye’s continued denial of access to vessels under the flag of one Member State, namely the Republic of Cyprus, to the Straits of Bosporus and the Dardanelles, as well as the additional unilateral measures taken on the flow of ships which complicated the transport of Ukrainian grain to ports outside Türkiye;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. AcknowledgesTakes note of the partial measures taken in recent months by the Turkish authorities to prevent the re-exportation to Russia of goods covered by EU sanctions, but urges them to go further in order to ensure that Türkiye stops being a hub for entities and individuals that wish to; underlines the paramount importance of preventing the circumvention of EU sanctions and urges Turkey to ensure the full respect of those sanctions, in particular taking into account the free circulation of products, including dual use goods, within the EU-Turkey Customs Union; highlights, its expectation that Turkey will avoid becoming a safe haven for Russian capital and investments, thus clearly circumvent suching EU sanctions;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on Türkiye to fully align itself with the sanctions and restrictive measures taken by the EU against the Russian and Belarusian authorities and individuals responsible for the illegal aggression against Ukraine and avoid becoming a safe haven for Russian capital and investments. Deplores the fact that circumvention of EU sanctions by Türkiye undermines the collective efforts of the EU and of its allies to limit Russia’s ability to continue its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. DFurther deplores, against the backdrop of the war, the delaying of the ratification of Sweden’s NATO accession, which only plays into Russia’s hands; invites the Turkish authorities to deliver on their promise of a more constructive partnership in NATO and to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership in the Grand National Assembly as early as possible;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that, in terms of human rights and the rule of law, the desolate picture painted in its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the 2021 Commission Report on Turkey remains valid, and reiterates the content of that resolution; fully endorses the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of 12 October 2022, and the related report by its Monitoring Committee, on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Türkiye; calls on Turkey to 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 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Takes note of the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting a large refugee population; welcomes, in this regard, the continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustaining this support in the future; calls on the Commission to ensure the utmost transparency and accuracy in the allocation of funds under the successor to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, ensuring that the funds are primarily given directly to the refugees and host communities and managed by organisations that guarantee accountability and transparency; supports an objective assessment of the cooperation between the EU and Turkey on refugees and migration matters and underlines the importance of both sides complying with their respective commitments under the EU-Turkey Joint Statement of 2016 and the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement vis-à vis all Member States, including the resumption of the readmission of returnees from the Greek islands, or the activation of the Voluntary Humanitarian Admissions Scheme; firmly objects to any instrumentalisation of migrants by the Turkish Government; notes that a continuing increase in asylum applications was registered in Cyprus over the past years and recalls Turkey’s obligation to take any necessary measures to prevent the creation of new sea or land routes for illegal migration from Turkey to the EU;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes, after a confrontational period, Türkiye’s recent steps towards normalising relations with several countries, such as Armenia, Egypt, Israel and the Gulf states, but remains concerned by the fact that Türkiye’s foreign policy still clashes in many aspects with EU interests and, far from growing closer to the EU, it has further diverged in the last year, reaching a record low of alignment with just 7 % of common foreign and security policy decisions; encourages Turkey to pave the way for genuine reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian peoples, including settling the dispute of the Armenian Genocide, and to fully respect its obligations to protect Armenian and other cultural heritage; encourages Turkey, once again, to recognise the Armenian Genocide;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomesTakes note that, after a confrontational period, Türkiye’s recent steps towards normalising relations with several countries, such as Armenia, Egypt, Israel and the Gulf states, but remains concerned by the fact that Türkiye’s foreign policy still clashes in many aspects with EU interests and, far from growing closer to the EU, it has further diverged in the last year, reaching a record low of alignment with just 7 % of common foreign and security policy decisions;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the overall de-escalation of tensions observed in the eastern Mediterranean in recent times, particularly in the wake of the February earthquakes, and expresses its hope that a possible new era in Türkiye’s foreign policy might yield positive results in the bilateral relations between Türkiye and all EU Member States; reiterates its long-standing support for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation and reaffirms its positions on the matter expressed in its resolution of 7 June 2022; mains fully aware that any positive dynamics can be easily reversed at any moment while the underlying issues remain unresolved; continues to urge Turkey to engage in a bona fide peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from any unilateral action or threats; continues, in particular, to call Turkey to show genuine collective engagement to negotiating the delimitation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the continental shelf in good faith and in line with international rules and principles; condemns, in this regard, the harassment by Turkish warships of research vessels performing surveys within the EEZ delimitated by the Republic of Cyprus; expresses its total solidarity with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus; reaffirms the right of the Republic of Cyprus to enter into bilateral agreements on its EEZ and to explore and exploit its natural resources in full compliance with international law; reiterates its call on the Turkish Government to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is part of the EU acquis; supports the invitation extended to Turkey by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to negotiate in good faith the maritime delimitation between their respective coast lines, or to have recourse to the International Court of Justice, and calls on Turkey to accept Cyprus’s invitation;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the overall de-escalation of tensions observedpositive momentum that appears to be developing recently in the eEastern Mediterranean in recent times, particularly in the wake offollowing the February earthquakes, and expresses its hopes that a possible new erAnkara will demonstrate a sin Türkiye’s foreign policy might yield positive results in the bilateral relations between Türkiycere commitment to good neighbourly relations, abandoning its aggressive and aill EU Member States; reiterates its long-standing support for a solution to the Cyprus problemegal practices and claims and engage in dialogue with Greece, in good faith and on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation and reaffirms its positions on the matter expressed in its resolution of 7 June 2022;international law, in order to resolve the only outstanding difference between the two countries, which is the delimitation of their respective EEZ and continental shelf.
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates its call on the Turkish Government to halt its plans for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is located in a region prone to severe earthquakes, therefore posing a major threat not only to Turkey, but also to the Mediterranean region; asks the Turkish Government to involve the governments of its neighbouring countries in relation to any further developments in the Akkuyu venture; to facilitate an experts’ mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency for inspection of the facility after the devastating earthquakes; to align its legislation with relevant EU acquis on nuclear safety and proceed with cross- border cooperation with neighboring states; to accede to the UN Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Trans-boundary Context and the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates its long-standing support for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation, with political equality, a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and reaffirms its positions on the matter expressed in its resolution of 7 June 2022;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Regrets that Türkiye’s position regarding the resolution of the Cyprus issue remains unchanged and that the Turkish support for a two state solution is not in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions. Further regrets that Türkiye pursues illegal activities in the maritime zones of Cyprus, has failed to implement in a non discriminatory manner the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement and continues the policy of “faits accomplis”, especially in the fenced area of Varosha.
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Deplores Türkiye’s ongoing campaign for the international upgrading of the illegal secessionist entity of the occupied part of Cyprus, mainly in international organizations such as the Organization of Turkic States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, but also on a bilateral level, in blatant violation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions 541/1983 and 550/1984 and in spite of strong condemnation by the EU and others.
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
The rule of law and fundamental rights
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Notes that no significant progress was registered with regard to the protection of the rights of non-Muslim minorities and expects Turkish authorities to respect and protect the property and educational rights of minorities, and recognize the legal personality and the public use of the ecclesiastical title of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Furthermore, urges Turkey to allow the re-opening of the Halki Seminary, respect the historical and cultural character of monuments, especially those classified as UNESCO World Heritage, apply the relevant to the religious communities and minorities recommendations of the Venice Commission and implement all relevant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and resolutions of the CoE, including on the Greek Orthodox population of the islands Gökçeada (Imvros) and Bozcaada (Tenedos);
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
13e. Reminds Türkiye that Hagia Sophia is a symbol of the ecumenical Christian Orthodox tradition and the Byzantine spirit, a monument globally renowned for its unparalleled historic cultural and architectural significance, inscribed since 1985 in the World Heritage List of UNESCO;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)
Paragraph 13 f (new)
13f. Underlines that the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and the Church of Holy Saviour of Chora into mosques, in July 2020 and August 2020 respectively, constitute serious challenges to the inter- faith and inter-cultural dialogue in the region, while degrading the Christian heritage in the country;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 g (new)
Paragraph 13 g (new)
13g. Reminds that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, by its decision adopted during its 44th Session in July 2021, has expressed great concern about the potential impact of status change on the Οutstanding Universal Value of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Museum and has called on Türkiye to engage in international cooperation and dialogue before any further major changes are implemented at the property;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 h (new)
Paragraph 13 h (new)
13h. Regrets that no steps have been taken to open the Halki (Heybeliada) Greek Orthodox Seminary, which remains closed since 1971;
Amendment 319 #
13i. Calls on Türkiye to fully implement the recommendations of the Council of Europe on protecting minority property rights and education rights, especially by taking steps to revise the relevant legislation on the issue of property rights of non-Muslim minorities and legislation covering all issues of property rights;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 j (new)
Paragraph 13 j (new)
13j. Reminds that past discriminatory policies implemented by Türkiye brought the Greek Minority to the verge of extinction;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 k (new)
Paragraph 13 k (new)
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 l (new)
Paragraph 13 l (new)
13l. Notes that minorities continued to face difficulties in many areas, such as the lack of legal status for religious institutions, the absence of protection for languages, the lack of schooling support, and clergy training, the decrease of the number of media programs in minority languages, as well as obstacles in enjoying property rights for foundations; further notes that the lack of legal personality for minority communities’ churches, synagogues, patriarchates, monasteries, and chief rabbinates is an impediment to their freedom of association and religion and to enjoying their property rights;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 m (new)
Paragraph 13 m (new)
13m. Deplores that no steps were taken to revise school textbooks, in order to remove discriminatory references, including against non-Muslim minorities;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 n (new)
Paragraph 13 n (new)
13n. Calls on Türkiye to fully respect language, religion, culture, cultural heritage and fundamental rights of minorities in accordance with European standards, to put in place mechanisms that will support the participation of minorities in decision-making processes and ensure that they are duly represented in the public administration; further calls on Türkiye to continue the reform process and introduce legislation, which makes it possible for all non-Muslim religious communities to acquire legal personality as underlined by the Venice Commission in 2010;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 b (new)
Subheading 1 b (new)
Wider EU-Turkey relations and Turkish foreign policy
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 o (new)
Paragraph 13 o (new)
13o. Calls on Türkiye to unequivocally commit to good neighbourly relations, international agreements and the peaceful settlement of disputes having recourse, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice and to avoid threats and actions that damage good neighbourly relations. Calls also on Türkiye to respect the sovereignty of all EU Member States as well as their sovereign rights to explore and exploit natural resources in accordance with international law, including the Law of the Sea, and in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 p (new)
Paragraph 13 p (new)
13p. Expresses its concern that Türkiye even contested the sovereignty of Greece, over specific Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean Sea, on the unfounded basis of an alleged obligation for their demilitarization;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 q (new)
Paragraph 13 q (new)
13q. Expresses deep concern that Türkiye continues to uphold a formal threat of war against Greece (casus belli), should the latter exercise its lawful right to extend its territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea, in accordance with Article 3 of UNCLOS, which also reflects customary international law; emphasizes that such a threat is in stark violation of the UN Charter, which explicitly prohibits the threat or use of force and undermines regional peace and stability;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 r (new)
Paragraph 13 r (new)
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 s (new)
Paragraph 13 s (new)
13s. Strongly condemns the instrumentalisation of migrants by Türkiye for its own political purposes and expresses concern regarding efforts by Türkiye to place under its control yet another migration route in the Central Mediterranean;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 t (new)
Paragraph 13 t (new)
13t. Requests Türkiye to honour and comply with its commitments under the EU-Turkey Joint Statement of 2016 and the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement vis-à-vis all Member States, including the resumption of the readmission of returnees from Greece and to refrain from instrumentalizing migrants for political purposes; further requests Türkiye to uphold its obligation to take necessary measures to dismantle smuggling networks operating on its territory and to prevent the creation of new sea or land routes for illegal migration from Türkiye to the EU;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 u (new)
Paragraph 13 u (new)
13u. Condemns Türkiye’s refusal to implement Articles 4 and 6 of the EU- Turkey Readmission Agreement for the readmission of third-country nationals, in disrespect of its obligations vis-à-vis the EU. Deplores that Türkiye links the implementation of these articles to visa liberalization, when full implementation of the readmission Agreement is one of the prerequisites for visa liberalization and recalls that the visa liberalization process, the upgrading of the Customs Union and the accession process have their own benchmarks and requirements, according to the EU institutional and legal framework;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 v (new)
Paragraph 13 v (new)
13v. Regrets that Türkiye’s positions and policy vis-a-vis Libya have remained vastly unchanged and condemns the signature of the two memoranda of understanding between Türkiye and Libya on comprehensive security and military cooperation and on the delimitation of maritime zones; condemns furthermore, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas between Türkiye and the National Accord Government of Libya (November 2019), which ignores Greece’s sovereign rights in the area concerned, infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 w (new)
Paragraph 13 w (new)
13w. Notes with concern that Türkiye signed, in October 2022, a new MoU on hydrocarbons with the Libyan Government of National Unity, which could have serious consequences for regional stability, to the extent that it would entail a direct or indirect implementation of the 2019 MoU, in areas where Greece and other third countries have sovereign rights in accordance with the international Law of the Sea;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its firm conviction that Türkiye is a country of strategic relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a key partneactor for the stability of the wider region and a vital ally, including within NATO, and reaffirms that the EU is committed to pursuing the best possible relations with Türkiye based on dialogue, respect and mutual trust;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its firm conviction that Türkiye is a country of strategic relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a keyn important partner for the stabilecurity of the wider region and a vitalsignificant ally, including within NATO, and reaffirms that the EU is committed to pursuing the best possible relations with Türkiye based on dialogue, respect and mutual trust;
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers, in view of all the above, that in the absence of a drastic change of course by the Turkish Government, Türkiye’s EU accession process has lost its purpose and will not endure much longer in the current circumstances; recommends, in that case, starting a reflection process to find an alternative and realisticaffirms nevertheless its support for keeping the accession process and its value-based approach as the main framework for EU-Türkiye Turkey relations in substitution for the accession process; calls on the Commission, therefore, to explore possible formats for a mutually appealing framework through a comprehensive and inclusive process, as it is still the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure on and constructive dialogue with the Government of Turkey and the best framework to sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society and promote convergence with the EU;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers, in view of all the above, that and, in the absence of a drastic change of course by the Turkish Government, Türkiye’s EU accession process has lost its purpose and will not endure much longer in the current circumstances; recommends, in that case, starting a reflection process to find an alternative and realistic framework for EU-Türkiye relations in substitution for the accession process; calls on the Commission, therefore, to explore possible formats for a mutually appealing framework through a comprehensive and inclusive procesfrom Türkiye, that a strategic discussion should be initiated within the European Council regarding the future of EU - Türkiye relations;
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Reaffirms that the EU's policy towards Türkiye is based on a dual approach, which favours open channels of communication and cooperation with Ankara (positive agenda/High Level Dialogues) in areas of common interest, in a gradual, proportionate and reversible manner and provided that Türkiye sustains de-escalation, as well as appropriate negative measures in case Türkiye persists in its provocative, revisionist and illegal actions.
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms its support for an upgraded customs union with a broader, mutually beneficial scope, which could encompass a wide range of areas of common interest, including digitalisation and Green Deal alignment; insists that such a modernisation would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and the aforementioned principlesfundamental freedoms, respect for international law and good neighbourly relations, and that it can only be envisaged upon Turkey’s full implementation of the Additional Protocol to extend the Ankara Agreement towards all Member States without reserve and in a non-discriminatory fashion; stresses that both parties must be fully aware of this democratic conditionality from the outset of any negotiations, as Parliament will not give its consent to the final agreement if no progress is made in this field; remains ready to advance towards visa liberalisation as soon as the Turkish authorities fulfil the six outstanding benchmarks;