Activities of Sergey LAGODINSKY related to 2022/2205(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2022 Report on Türkiye (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2022 Commission Report on Türkiye
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the relevant resolutions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), including the interim resolutions of 2 February 2022 and 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Kavala against Turkey, the interim resolutions of 9 March 2023 and 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Selahattin Demirtaş v Turkey (No. 2), as well as the CoE´s demand for the immediate release of Osman Kavala, Figen Yüksekdağ, and Selahattin Demirtaş from 8 June 2023,
Amendment 28 #
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 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in any case to which they are parties, and to the ensuing obligation of Türkiye to implement all judgments of the European Court of Human Rights,
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the 2023 Freedom in the World report published by Freedom House, which gave Türkiye a score of 32 out of 100 for the respect of civil liberties and political rights,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas devastating earthquakes struck south-eastern Türkiye on 6 February 2023, causing numerous fatalities and extensive infrastructure damage; whereas 21 EU Member States promptly dispatched search and rescue teams to Türkiye; whereas on 20 March the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency hosted a donors´ conference resulting in a pledge of 6,05 € billion in loans and grants for Türkiye;
Amendment 76 #
Da. whereas according to the report of the Platform to End Femicide (Kadın Cinayetlerini Durduracağız Platformu), 334 women were killed by men and 245 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances in 2022 in Türkiye; whereas in its 2021 report, the platform noted that 280 women were killed and 217 women were found dead under suspicious circumstances;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Russian war of aggression continues to causes unprecedented geopolitical shifts in Europe; whereas Türkiye’s key location allows it to play an instrumental, strategic role in the events;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas Türkiye hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with almost 4 million registered refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan; whereas there are credible reports of deportation of refugees residing in Türkiye and summary-push-backs of refugees at Türkiyeʼs borders with little or no examination of their claims for international protection;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the results of the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye and considers them a sign foreboding political continuity in the country; acknowledges the peaceful manner in which the Turkish people conducted this process and applauds the high turnout; regrets, however, that, as reflected by the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, the elections did not take place on a level playing field and were impacted, among other things, by essential freedoms being heavily hindered by the current legal framework and practice, and by the unjustified advantage enjoyed by the ruling parties; highlights that the Turkish government used its power over state institutions and regulatory bodies to control narratives and debates in both traditional and social media, to imprison journalists and politicians, and to remove elected officials in the Kurdish majority parts from office, in order to disadvantage the opposition; considers the fact that that state television (TRT) afforded President Erdoğan 32 hours of airtime in the run- up to the election and his opponent 32 minutes as well as the spread of false claims and montage videos by ruling parties affiliating the opposition actors with terrorism are exemplary of the unjust circumstances of the elections; expresses concern about reports by election observers and complaints by political opposition parties about discrepancies between recorded counts made at polling stations and the final votes entered into the Supreme Election Council’s system, suggesting voter fraud, as documented in district 1234, Bismil, Diyarbakır;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its profound sadness about the deadly, devastating earthquakes that shook south-eastern Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023 and its heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families; welcomes the international relief and recovery effort, including by the EU and its Member States; regrets that during the critical hours following the earthquake access to the internet and social media was significantly limited, which affected rescue efforts, and journalists were targeted, which impeded the free flow of information;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the EU and Member States as well as all other international donors to deliver on their pledges made at the donorsʼ conference and ensure that the design, implementation and oversight of reconstruction and disaster response is transparent, sustainable and safe and puts in place the necessary mechanisms to closely monitor that all people in need have equal access to the earthquake aid response and are not discriminated against on the basis of their nationality or status;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues to impact EU-Türkiye relations in ways that are yet to unfold; reiterates its appreciation for Türkiye’s role as an early mediator between Ukraine and Russia andhas added another dimension to EU-Türkiye relations; reiterates its appreciation for Türkiye’s role as NATO member and supporter of Ukrainian sovereignty; welcomes the key part played by Türkiye in brokering and keeping alive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has been crucial in helping to counter a severe global hunger crisis;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. ARegrets that Türkiye has not aligned itself with EU sanctions in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; stresses the particular risk posed by sanction evasion allowing for dual-use technology transfers to Russia, which could ultimately be used by Russia's army in Ukraine; acknowledges 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 circumvent such sanctions;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Expresses concern about Türkiye’s close cooperation with Russia on the development of large nuclear power plants, including Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant which is being built, owned and will be operated by Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom; notes that a number of accidents and fire explosions have already occurred during the construction of the plant; warns that the impact of a failure in the safety systems or an earthquake poses a high risk with inevitably catastrophic consequences for the region; calls on the Turkish Government to stop the construction plans for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. 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; denounces in this context the anti-EU and anti- Western rhetoric by the ruling parties and the president during the election campaign as well as attempts to undermine democratic freedoms in EU Member States by the instrumentalisation of accession consent vis-a-vis Sweden;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is dismayed by the fact that, far from the negative trend stopping or being reversed, the democratic backsliding in Türkiye has continued in the last year, with new legal reformsseveral laws being amended, including the Internet Law, the Press Law, and the Turkish Penal Code that tighten online censorship and restrict access to information under the guise of preventing misinformation and a relentless crackdown on any critical voice, particularly ahead of and during the recent elections; affirms with regret that Türkiye has now become a global showcase for all kinds of authoritarian practicesconsolidated all kinds of authoritarian practices; reiterates its concern about the Turkish governmentʼs control of the internet, in particular Law No. 5651 (on Regulating Publication on the Internet and Combatting Crimes Committed Through Such Publication) which has been used as a vehicle for blocking access to internet sites and individual URLs leading to 467,000 websites blocked at the end of 2020;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Expresses its strong concern about the draconian disinformation law adopted in October 2022 that tightens government control over social media platforms and online news sites, introducing prison sentences for the publishing of "disinformation and fake news"; holds that the bill´s vague definition of “disinformation” and “intent” puts millions of Türkiye’s Internet users, including small and medium-sized enterprises, at risk of criminal action for posting information with which the government disagrees and hence instigates self-censorship through intimidation; holds that the disinformation law deals yet another blow to the freedom of expression in Türkiye, not only for media outlets but Turkish society at large, that increasingly uses the Internet for the free flow of information; denounces that the Turkish government with the social media law in 2020, the anti-money laundering law in 2021 and the disinformation law in 2022 built a complex web of legislation serving as a tool to systematically control and silence journalists, media workers, civil society organisations, political activists, academics and artists: is appalled that at least 61 journalists and media workers are still in prison, facing charges or appealing convictions of mainly terrorism-related crimes;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Remains deeply concerned about the lack of independence of the judiciary and the political instrumentaisation of the judicial system, the continued breach of the obligation to abide by the landmark rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, the serious restrictions on fundamental freedoms – particularly freedom of expression and of association – and the constant attacks on the fundamental rights of members of the opposition, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, academics and civil society activists in Türkiye; is particularly worried by the continued crackdown on Kurdish politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists including through judicial and administrative harassment, the arbitrary use of anti-terror laws, stigmatization and closure cases against associations; denounces the politically motivated verdict of the Gezi trial handed down on 25 April 2022, imposing an aggravated life sentence on prominent human rights defender Osman Kavala and 18 years of prison to seven defendants, confirming the lack of impartiality of the judiciary; is particularly worried by the continued crackdown on Kurdish politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists including mass detentions prior to the elections, as well as the ongoing closure case against the People’s Democratic Party (HDP); expresses its deep concern about the deterioration of the rights of women, the increase in femicides, and the constant targeting and harassment of LGBTI+ people, both of whom could see their rights further curtailed by the possible amendments to Türkiye’s constitution; ; condemns the Turkish dismantling of womenʼs rights, particularly its withdrawal from the Istanbul convention as well as its aggressive anti-LGBTIQ+ campaign, characterised by excessive hate-speech of senior political figures, including the president who called LGBTIQ people “deviants” who spread like “the plague” and “a poison injected into the family”; is deeply worried that under the new Turkish government both women and the LGBTIQ+ community could see their rights further curtailed by the possible amendments to Türkiye’s constitution; calls on the Turkish authorities to desist from spreading hate speech and misinformation about LGBTIQ+ people, prevent and combat violence against women and girls, support survivors, and to hold abusers to account by fully implementing Türkiye’s Law no. 6284;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Condemns the fact that freedom of assembly, guaranteed by the Constitution of Türkiye, has been severely restricted, among others in the case of the “Saturday Mothers”, whose gathering in Istanbul has been repeatedly banned by local authorities despite a Constitutional Court decision upholding this group’s rights to peacefully protest;
Amendment 269 #
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; urges Türkiye and all stakeholders involved to engage in bona fine in the peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from any unilateral and illegal action or threats; calls on collective efforts to delimitate the exclusive economic zones as well as the continental shelf in accordance with international law; 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;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Remains highly concerned about the so-called Kurdish question and calls on the new Turkish government to move in the direction of a plausible settlement of the conflict; is alarmed about the heavy and deteriorating repression of the Kurdish community, especially in the south-east of the country;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Condemns Türkiye’s military interventions in Syria and its illegal occupation of areas in northern Syria and denounces that Türkiye and local Syrian factions abuse civilians’ rights and restrict their freedoms with impunity in the Turkish-occupied territories; expresses concern about Turkish airstrikes in Northern Syria and Iraq and reiterates that civilian population should never be the victim of military self- defence; calls for Turkish authorities to exercise restraint in full respect of international standards;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls on the Commission to put forward, without delay, a proposal for the continuation of financing for Syrian refugees and host communities in Türkiye after 2024;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Is highly concerned by reports of arbitrary deportations of Syrian and Afghani refugees as well as summary push-backs of persons apprehended attempting to cross the border, notably Afghan refugees; condemns racist and xenophobic attacks against refugees in Türkiye and fuelling of anti-refugee and anti-immigration rhetoric by Turkish politicians; urges the Turkish authorities to halt any forced deportations of refugees and respect the principle of non- refoulement; deplores the lack of access to the over 30 deportation centres in Türkiye for international and national organisations in order to monitor and provide assistance; calls for an independent investigation into credible reports of EU funding for deportation centres in Türkiye that have been used to force Syrian refugees to sign “voluntary return” certificates;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)
Paragraph 13 f (new)
13f. Calls on Türkiye to advance alignment with the EU directives and acquis related to the environment and climate action; commends the work of environmental rights defenders; regrets that whereas Türkiye has established ambitious goals in areas including pollution control, waste management and combating climate change, enforcement remains weak and the management of the ongoing economic crises has taken precedence over efforts to achieve a sustainable economy;
Amendment 358 #
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 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 procesdemns the further backsliding of Türkiye in the fields of democracy, human rights and rule of law and highlights that the continuous regression and lack of political will of the government of Türkiye to align with European Union standards and values have brought about the standstill of the accession process; calls for a structured and comprehensive high-level dialogue aimed at discussing and re-framing the current state of EU-Türkiye relations to take place urgently, while maintaining the formal freezing of the accession negotiations; advocates deepening EU- Türkiye people to people exchange and cooperation through the Horizon Europe, Erasmus + and Solidarity Corps programmes, that Türkiye joined in 2021, and increasing EU support for these programmes;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Acknowledges and commends the democratic and pro-European aspirations of the majority of Turkish society (particularly among Turkish youth), whom the EU will not forsake; expresses its utmost commitment to sustaining and increasing the support for Türkiye’s independent civil society, including direct financial assistance, in whatever circumstances and under whatever framework for relations that the future may bring including by regularly monitoring the situation the right to freedom of assembly and association in Türkiye and raising concerns regarding attacks against human rights defenders and shrinking civic space; reiterates its call to strengthen and deepen mutual knowledge and understanding between Turkish and EU Member States' societies, promoting cultural growth, socio-cultural exchanges and combating all manifestations of social, religious, ethnic or cultural prejudice;