Activities of Özlem DEMIREL

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4

– having regard to the negotiating framework for Turkey of 3 October 2005, and the full adherence to Copenhagen criteria which remains a precondition for the successful outcome of any accession process,

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

– having regard to the declaration issued by the then European Community and its Member States on 21 September 2005, following the declaration made by Turkey upon signature on 29 July 2005 of the Ankara Protocol, including the provision that the recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the negotiations, and to the need for Turkey to proceed to the normalization of its relations with all Member States and to fully implement the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement towards all Member States, by removing all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport, without prejudice and discrimination,

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

– having regard to the restrictive measures’ framework established by the EU on 11 November 2019, as a result of the illegal drilling activities of Turkey in Eastern Mediterranean, which was renewed on 12 November 2020 and 12 November 2021,

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas, the tensions between the EU and Turkey, in relation to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean have de-escalated but not ceased;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas Turkey has been repeatedly asked to refrain from all actions which violate the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all EU member-states in violation of international and EU law;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

~~F. whereas the Turkish Government has repeatedly employed political delaying tactics and a transactional approach with regard to Sweden’s application for NATO membership;~~deleted

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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;deleted

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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, as well as the resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe pending the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 reforms 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 practices; it is concerned that after the last elections, repression and persecution of political opposition will intensify due to the worsening of the country's economic situation;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Remains deeply concerned about the lack of independence of the judiciary, 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, lawyers, trade unionists, members of minorities, journalists, academics and civil society activists in Türkiye; is particularly worried by the continued crackdown on Kurdish politicians, journalists, lawyers and artists; expresses concern about the deterioration of the rights of women 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; reminds of the situation of political prisoners suffering tortures, especially the situation of Mücella Yapıcı (72 years old), who was imprisoned in the Gezi trial, and notes the increase in deaths;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Reiterates its strong condemnation of Turkey’s withdrawal, by presidential decree, from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention);a decision that is particularly alarming against the background of continuing high number of femicides in the country; in deploring this decision it underlines that it constitutes an enormous set back to efforts to promote women’s rights in the country and reiterates its call on Turkey’s Government to reverse this unacceptable decision;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Concludes that the Turkish Government has no interest in closing the persistent and growing gap between Türkiye and the EU on values and standards, as it has shown, for the past few years, a clear lack of political will to carry out the necessary reforms to address, in particular, the serious concerns about the rule of law and fundamental rights and normalise its relations with EU Member States that continue to negatively affect the country’s EU accession process; notes with concern that there are still no signs of implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and consequently releasing political prisoners such as Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 decision; regrets though that Türkiye is yet to take concrete steps in normalising its relations with all states in the region in adherence with international law and stop illegally intervening in regional crises;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Calls on the EU not to remain complacent and rely on the 2016 EU- Turkey statement, which should be terminated; instead, a change in its immigration policy must be based on real solidarity, respect of the core principles of asylum and migration international law vis-à-vis everyone refraining from double standards; particularly now that the anti- immigration front in Europe is dangerously gaining ground;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)

12d. Calls on all EU Member States, in view of Turkey’s militarized foreign policy, to stop all arms exports to Turkey;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)

12e. Reiterates its call on the Turkish Government to halt its plans for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, located in a region prone to severe earthquakes as the recent devastating experience underlines, hence posing a major threat not only to Turkey, but also to the entire Mediterranean region; requests, accordingly, that the Turkish Government join the Espoo Convention, which commits its parties to notifying and consulting each other on major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries; asks, to this end, the Turkish Government to involve, or at least consult, the governments of its neighbouring countries in relation to any further developments in the Akkuyu venture;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Condemns Turkey for continuing to provocatively ignore the unambiguous calls of the international community, including of the EU, to reverse its illegal activities at Varosha and refrain from proceeding with new unilateral actions that create severe tensions on the island; expresses its deep concern in relation to the ongoing “opening” of Varosha by Türkiye as this negatively alters the situation on the ground, undermines mutual trust and negatively impacts on the prospects for the resumption of direct talks on the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem; strongly urges Turkey for once more to reverse its illegal and unilateral actions at Varosha and reiterates that these violate past agreements and convergences, as well as all the relevant UNSC resolutions; particularly Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) which call upon Türkiye to transfer the area of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants under the temporary administration of the UN; warns against changes impinging upon the status quo at Varosha in violation of the aforementioned UNSC resolutions;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Calls on Turkey to refrain from any unilateral actions which entrench on the ground the permanent division of the island as opposed to its reunification and jeopardise the prospects of substantial negotiations; calls on Turkey to begin withdrawing its troops from Cyprus and to refrain from any actions altering the demographic balance on the island through its policy of illegal settlements; taking note of the significant work of the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) calls for improved access to military zones by the Turkish army, access to its military archives and information as to the relocation of remains from former to latter burial sites;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Reiterates its firm conviction that Türkiye is a country of strategic relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms~~, a key partner 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;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Insists that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights should remain at the heart of ~~good neighbourly relations between the EU and Türkiye and that any framework for those relations should be firmly underpinned by~~EU and Türkiye relations; reaffirms that respect for the principles of international law and multilateralism remains unconditional;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 ~~in whatever circumstances and under whatever framework for relations that the future may bring~~;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Strategic Compass sets out EU-level action in many of these areas; whereas the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility are EU instruments which have already been deployed and ~~that are designed to improve military capabilities and foster operational cooperation and burden-s~~will lead to increased human rights abuses, violence and arms proliferation and not to peace and political solutions; stresses that the facility's approach fails to address the root causes of conflicts but will harm civilians and fuel violations of international humanitarian law; whereas the European Defence Fund as well as the short term financial instrument for common defence procurement (EDIPAR) violate Article 41.2 of the EU Treaty which prohibits the funding of actions harving ~~abroad~~military or defence implications from the Union budget;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas, in line with Article 41.2 of the TEU, the ~~administrative and~~ operating expenditure for the RDC should be charged to the Union budget except for expenditure that is covered by the European Peace Facility, notwithstanding the possibility for participating Member States to make free-of-charge contributions to the RDCarising from actions having military or defence implications must not be charged to the Union budget;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcome~~Rejects the VP/HR’s proposal, enshrined in the Strategic Compass, to establish an RDC; stresses th~~e importance of the EU having the necessary capabi~~at this policy concept is based on a purely geopolitiescal and ~~structures to take action rapidly~~a neo-colonial approach to guard sphere of political and dec~~isively d~~onomic interest, abusing the neighbouring countrises ~~in order to serve and protect the Union’s citizens, interests and values across the world~~and regions as EU door keeper for EU's security interests only, and as supplier for raw materials; denounces and deeply deplores the unprecedented speed with which the EU is being militarised; stresses the need for a change of EU's policy towards equal partnerships and non- interventionist approach;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point g

(g) ~~Similarly,~~ its operating expenditure ~~should~~must not be funded from the Union budget ~~with the exception of expenditure that is charged to the European Peace Facility~~in line with Article 41.2 TEU;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls ~~for~~on the EU ~~RDC to have the possibility of being deployed and~~and Member States to massively increase civil protection capacities acting in emergencies, natural disasters such as floods or wildfires, or other significant civil-protection crises in~~side EU territory, at the proposal of the VP/HR and following the per~~cluding pandemics inside EU territory, demands in this regards to not rely on volunteerism or voluntary work but to establish a permanent contingent ~~authorisation procedure~~of professional civil protection and disaster relief workers;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – point b

(b) warns that acting by qualified majority after deliberation in the Council would once again increase the influence and power of big member states, such as Germany and France, considerably at the expense of smaller Member States;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that the EU’s defence sector is fragmented, which creates strategic vulnerabilities for the Union, Member States and industry; is concerned about the lack of coordination and calls for more strategic cohesion in security and defence policies at Union level; welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s launch of the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) and encourages the Commission and Member States to take this initiative a step further and strive towards a de facto military union supported by a strongly articulated common market for defence equipment, followed by a review of the Treaties for because the EU contains a wide array of separate strategic cultures and competing defence industries and procurement systems specifically adapted to each of them; underlines that some EU Member States define themselves as neutral in some form and that as such the notion of more EU competences on critical technologies for defence, innovation in defence, and security and defence affairs is problematic and would be a highly undemocratic development within the EU;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Deplores the advance of a militarist agenda in the European Union and the sharp rise in allocation of European public money to militarist projects above social projects in the 2021– 27 Multi-annual Financial Framework wherin funding for law enforcement, border control, military research and development and operations now stands at €43.9bn, 31 times higher than the €1.4bn funding allocation for rights, values and justice; recalls that according to Article 41.2 of the TEU, the operating expenditure arising from actions having military or defence implications must not be charged to the Union budget;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the relevant EU bodies to consolidate EU cooperative frameworks for developing cutting-edge ~~military~~ capabilities in the transport, health, agriculture, environment and climate action sectors and for EU-level legislation to coordinate Member States’ strategies for critical technologies in these fields and to reduce dependencies;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to encourage Member States, in light of the fact that the greatest threat to life on earth is global warming, to review all defence programmes and policy tools, check if they are still fit for purpose, and ~~summarise findings; suggests that the European Defence Agency can provide light touch support and coordination suggestions, including a strategic assessment of th~~a logical use of funds and summarise findings;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a more pragmatic a~~nd business-oriented approach to military research~~pproach to research in the areas of health, transport, agriculture, environment and climate action in order to provide incentives for innovation in ~~military~~ technology~~, including by reducing or removing barriers to entry into the defence market;~~ related to these fields, further calls for increased support for European companies in emerging technologies ~~to ensure they remain competitive in international markets by relaxing the rules on compliance documentation and by providing tax incentives and stimulating investment~~relevant to these areas;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines the need to stimulate the development of skills for innovation, research and development (R&D)~~, and fundamental research in critical areas related to emerging technologies; calls on the Commission to encourage Member States to establish and fund defence innovation hub~~ in the areas of health, transport, agriculture, environment and climate action, and fundamental research in critical areas related to emerging technologies in these areas;

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Expresses its support for the Observatory of Critical Technologies; calls for it to be further developed and for its analysis capabilities, including on reducing strategic dependencies, to be enhanced; calls on the Commission to implement a project to continuously map the need for critical materials, evaluate the EU’s strategic dependencies, monitor supply and demand and changes in the behaviour or strategy of competitors, and engage in foresight exercises to predict new needs in critical materials; considers that these efforts should be made jointly with our strategic partners in NATO and included in a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) working group in order to coordinate diplomatic efforts to secure supplies and ensure alternative sources;deleted

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls for military and strategic interoperability between the EU and like- minded partners and NATO, and among Member States, to be ensured, given that the risk of fragmentation is exacerbated by different national requirements and national public spending and investment and procurement schemes;deleted

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission and Member States to develop capabilities for testing and inspecting complex defence equipment, including by means of AI- assisted technology, to identify vulnerabilities stemming from components produced in non-EU countries;deleted

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Urges the Commission and Member States to strengthen cooperation between the EDA’s defence innovation hub and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) by supporting joint projects, joint research and joint investment in cutting-edge defence technologies.deleted

2023/02/08
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

– having regard to The Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD Convention) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1976,

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 a (new)

– having regard to the Group of Governmental Experts on the prevention of an arms race in outer space established in 2017 by resolution A/RES/72/250 of the UN General Assembly,

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has ~~programmes and~~ capabilities t~~hat~~o make it a ~~space power~~n important player for peaceful civilian space governance;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas there have been numerous calls at the United Nations for a legally binding international agreement to ensure that space does not become militarised and to prevent an arms race in space;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

~~C. whereas the space capabilities of the EU and its Member States generate activities that are essential to the economy and the functioning of our societies;~~deleted

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas if we combine the expected growth of the space sector in the coming years and the fact that rocket production and launches generate emissions across layers of the atmosphere, up to and including the ozone layer, it is evident that environmental pollution risks from rocket launch emissions merit consideration; whereas this issue of the potential impacts of space activities on the environment will require further attention at the international level;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas additional normative international frameworks are needed to prevent any extension of armed conflict into outer space and to prevent the weaponisation of outer space;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the findings and high level of ambition in the recommendations proposed in the EU space strategy in the area of security and defence, which lives up to the high expectations of European players in the space sector, and calls for the recommended actions to be taken in a swift and effective mannerRejects the EU space strategy in the area of security and defence;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~the upsurge~~ existing risks ~~and threats in space is good reason to bolster~~from space debris requires improving the resilience of space infrastructure, systems and services;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the need to develop at a UN level an effective framework for the coordination of space situational awareness and to develop norms and principles for space debris removal;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Union to initiate and support the demilitarisation of Outer Space, for example through the further development and enforcement of the so- called Outer Space Treaty and the PAROS (Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space) UN resolution; Calls for the purely civilian use and exploration of Outer Space; insists that the Union should lead the way in strengthening the increasingly contested area of international space law;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls the UN “Frameworks for a peaceful world – promoting peace, international law and digital coopera-tion”, where Member States agreed that outer space must be explored and utilised only for peaceful pur-poses and for the benefit of all States;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that changes to Copernicus services to enable it to meet defence requirements should be subject to appropriate governance closely involving the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen); recognises the essential role of SatCen as a single collective geospatial intelligence capability that lends weight to the EU’s and its Member States’ capacity to take autonomous decisions and action;deleted

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on Member States to engage with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to establish an international mechanism to coordinate the implementation of the proposed regime or governance frameworks on the sustainability of outer space, taking into account the five United Nations treaties on outer space and other instruments for international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space; notes that this international coordination mechanism, developed in cooperation with relevant bodies of the United Nations system, should incorporate a platform for broader operational stakeholder inclusion;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses the importance of developing cooperation with strategic partners; supports the continuation of an enhanced dialogue with the United States, while remaining vigilant to the risk that it may seek to steer or dictate outlooks, standards and rules that the Member States have not helped to shape; calls for deeper cooperation and for alliances to be established with like-minded states (the UK, Canada, Japan) or other EU partners (India); calls for deeper cooperation with the wider international community through forums such the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subcommittees and working groups;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2078(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Notes that NATO is conducting strategic reflection in the space domain; notes, however, that the EU, in its own right and through its Member States, already has more developed programmes, capacities and institutions that do not compete with these advances; calls for closer cooperation between the EU and NATO to be pursued in areas of shared interest, while ensuring that the roles, competences and autonomy of the two organisations are scrupulously maintained;deleted

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2046(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s upcoming proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP), the aim of which would be to introduce joint procurement and life cycle management of military capabilities, in particular those necessary to harness EU defence over the decades to counter a military threat from Russia; calls on all Member States to complement EU funding with funding from their national defence budgets; invites the Commission to open this programme to key strategic partners and allies;deleted

2022/07/25
Committee: AFET

2022/2046(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights in light of the war on Ukraine the utmost importance of a paradigm shift in EU foreign policy, as the past years and months including delivery of arms and geo political sanctions have not saved one life in Ukraine nor in other conflicts and war but on contrary have worsened the situation within and outside the EU; calls in this regard for a Union as a strong actor promoting urgently peaceful, diplomatic conflict resolution, advancing cooperation on arms control and nuclear disarmament, focusing on the looming famine catastrophe and poverty reduction, fair trade and balanced economic relations; recalls the disastrous results of the interventionist, geopolitical and military approach as seen in Afghanistan and Mali; objects to further EU militarisation and the continued setting up of a Military Union and the on-going support for the defence and armament industry; stresses that the setting-up of the European Defence Fund violates the provisions laid down in Article 41(2) TEU;

2022/07/25
Committee: AFET

2022/2046(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for stronger defence cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova to be established, including by enhancing the financial capabilities of the European Defence Agency (EDA) to help identify where Ukraine should participate in EU defence capability development over the years to come.deleted

2022/07/25
Committee: AFET

2022/0219(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
–

The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

2023/02/13
Committee: AFET ITRE

2022/0219(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) Pursuant to Article 41(2) of the Treaty on European Union, expenditure arising from operations having military or defence implications shall not be charged to the Union budget;

2023/02/13
Committee: AFET ITRE

2022/0219(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)

(1b) Considering that he EDF precursors programmes (PADR & EDIDP) have been profiting mostly to the big four military powers (France, Italy, Germany and Spain getting 65% of the funding allocated in 2017-2020) and to 15 major arms companies and research centres (getting 51,3% of the funding); warns that many of these arms dealers are involved in controversial arms exports and/or are subject to serious allegations of corruption;

2023/02/13
Committee: AFET ITRE

2022/0219(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b

~~(b) public authorities of associated third countries.~~deleted

2023/02/13
Committee: AFET ITRE

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the purpose of European cooperation in defence matters is to make Europe and its citizens safer and reduce costs by creating synergies; highlights that the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) has been deeply impacted by Russia’s war; notes that the European Peace Facility (EPF) has enabled an unprecedented support from EU Member States, including weapons, amounting to EUR 2 billion by the end of May 2022, but regrets that this is off- budget which does not allow for parliamentary scrutiny;deleted

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights in light of the war on Ukraine the utmost importance of a paradigm shift in EU foreign policy, as the past years and the months including delivery of arms and geo political sanctions have not saved one life in Ukraine nor in other conflicts and war but on the contrary have worsened the situation within an outside the EU; calls in this regard for a Union as a strong actor promoting urgently peaceful, diplomatic conflict resolution, advancing cooperation on arms control and nuclear disarmament, focusing on the looming famine catastrophe and poverty reduction, fair trade and balanced economic relations; recalls the disastrous results of the interventionist, geopolitical and military approach as seen in Afghanistan and Mali; objects to further EU militarization and the continued setting up of a Military Union and the on-going support of the defence and armament industry; stresses that the setting-up of the European Defence Fund violates the provisions laid down in Article 41(2) TEU;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2

— having regard to the Negotiating Framework for Turkey of 3 October 2005, and the Copenhagen criteria to which remains a precondition for the successful outcome of any accession process,

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

— having regard to the declaration issued by the then European Community and its Member States on 21 September 2005, following the declaration made by Turkey upon signature on 29 July 2005 of the Ankara Protocol, including the provision that the recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the negotiations, and to the need for Turkey to proceed to the normalization of its relations with all Member States and to fully implement the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement towards all Member States, by removing all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport, without prejudice and discrimination,

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to the restrictive measures’ framework established by the EU on 11 November 2019, in result of the illegal drilling activities of Turkey in Eastern Mediterranean, which was renewed on 12 November 2020 and 12 November 2021,

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the fact that respect for the rule of law, democracy, separation of powers, and human rights, including fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and media, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, the rights of minorities including property rights of all non- Muslim religious minorities, religious freedom, the rights of women and children, the fight against racism and discrimination against vulnerable groups such as the Roma, disabled persons, LGBTI is at the core of any attempt to restore our relations,

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7

— having regard to the relevant resolutions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, including the interim resolution of 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Kavala against Turkey, the interim resolution of 2 December 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Selahattin Demirtaş v Turkey (No. 2), ~~and~~ the interim resolution of 2 February 2022 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Kavala against Turkey, and the interim resolution of 16September 2021 on the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Cyprus v. Turkey

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8

— having regard to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on Cyprus, including resolution 186(1964) which reaffirms the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, 550(1984) of 11 May 1984 on secessionist actions in Cyprus and resolution 789(1992) of 25 November 1992 urging all concerned in the Cyprus question to commit themselves to the confidence-building measures set out in the resolution, whilst reaffirming the consideration of resolution 550 (1984) that any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants are inadmissible and calls for the transfer of that area to the administration of the United Nations;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas, in the ~~aftermath of recent~~ tensions between the EU and Turkey, ~~particularly~~ in relation to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean have de- escalated but not ceased, the European Council offered to nurture a more positive dynamic in EU-Turkey relations by expressing readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner in a number of areas of common interest;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas Turkey has been repeatedly asked to refrain from all actions which violate the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all EU Member States, as well as from provocations which impair the prospects for a constructive dialogue and pose additional obstacles in its relations with the EU;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingness to progressively a~~pproach in all aspects~~dopt the values, interests, standards and policies of the EU; whereas an analysis of the EU’s reports in recent years reveal that Turkey’s distance from the EU’s values and its normative framework is still considerable and is even growing in fundamental areas such as the rule of law and human rights;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas over the past year, EU- Turkey relations have on average remained stable, as enhanced cooperation and dialogue on a number of issues have coexisted with regular conflicts; whereas this report reflects this situation by welcoming positive developments and pointing to further potential in the relationship, while signalling remaining problems, in particular as regards the ~~rule of law and fundamental rights;~~ ongoing provocations against the Republic of Cyprus and the rule of law and fundamental rights; whereas if this report is to assess Turkey’s progress or lack of progress in terms of human rights and rule of law, as the core of the accession process, it is important to describe the concrete mechanisms of erosion of freedoms that, taken together, lead to this general backsliding with regard to European standards; whereas this approach means going beyond a long list of citizens and groups who are suffering as a result of these decisions to identifying the operators and bodies of the public authorities responsible of this worrying situation in their particular area of action; whereas generic criticism must be replaced by targeted criticism;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates its concern about the persistent distance between the EU and Turkey, despite it being a candidate country, in terms of values and standards, and the continuing lack of political will to carry out the necessary reforms to address, in particular, the serious concerns about the rule of law and fundamental rights that continue to negatively affect the accession process; considers that inter alia without clear progress also in this field, Parliament cannot envisage any resumption of accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018; notes that it does not find arguments at this stage to modify its conditional position concerning the formal suspension of the accession negotiations with Turkey;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes, however, that there has been a slight improvement over the past year in overall EU-Turkey relations, which have on average remained stable, as enhanced cooperation and dialogue on a number of issues have coexisted with regular conflicts; expresses its hope that this pattern of ‘conflictual cooperation’ can be overcome and replaced with a more positive dynamic; it underlines that for this to occur Turkey must engage constructively with the EU, subject to the conditionalities established by previous European Council Conclusions and refrain from any provocations and activities threatening the sovereign rights of EU member-states;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its firm conviction that ~~Turkey is~~a democratic and peaceful Turkey endorsing a mutual approach of respect towards the EU and all member states can prove a country of s~~trategic~~ignificant relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a partner that iscan be key for the stability of the wider region, and an ally with which the EU wi~~shes~~ll be able to pursue the best possible relations; welcomes, in this view, the recent statements expressed at the highest level by the Turkish authorities about the recommitment of the Turkish Government to the EU path, but urges the Turkish authorities to put their words into action and demonstrate this commitment with specific facts and decisions;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Expresses concern over the current economic situation in Turkey, which through soaring inflation and a constantly rising cost of living is pushing a high and increasing number of people into hardship and poverty; notes that while the current situation has been developing over a number of years, it has turned into a currency crisis in recent months, which exacerbates existing pandemic-related impacts in the economy; is concerned by the lack of confidence on purportedly independent bodies such as the central bank and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜIK); notes in this regard that the operational independence of both institutions is a key criteria for EU accession; further highlights that the poor performance of Turkey with regard to the respect to the rule of law has also a severe impact on the reputational image of the country and that the lack of legal certainty has the potential to seriously affect the ability of the country to attract foreign investments; Notes that in October 2021 the Financial Action Task Force added Turkey to the list of jurisdictions deemed incapable of tackling money laundering terrorist financing, and proliferation financing; expresses its hope that Turkey can rapidly display the necessary progress on improving the implementation of relevant AML/CFT measures;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey, including backsliding on fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law; considers that the current repressive form of rule, whose main pillars are abuse of the legal framework particularly in relation with terrorism and freedom of expression and a lack of independence of the judiciary, is a deliberate, relentless and systematic state policy developed to suppress any critical activities either-directly or through a chilling effect; is appalled by the fact that in order to pursue this policy, the Turkish state authorities are ready to blatantly and persistently disregard their international and domestic legal obligations, such as those derived from Turkey’s membership of the Council of Europe;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Insists that the crucial area of fundamental rights and freedoms, which is at the core of the accession process, cannot be disconnected and isolated from overall relations with the EU and stresses that for Parliament, it remains ~~the main~~a severe obstacle to further progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its strong condemnation of Turkey’s withdrawal, by presidential decree, from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention); a decision that is particularly alarming against the background of continuing high number of femicides in the country and that represents a major set back to efforts to promote women’s rights in the country; reiterates its call on Turkey’s Government to reverse this incomprehensible and unacceptable decision;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Notes the importance of upholding the freedom of assembly and demonstration in Turkey, which is enshrined in its constitution; is deeply worried by the routine use and continued extension of bans on protests and demonstration by provincial governors, and particularly by the ban by Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez that has been in place for over five years in Van Province; deplores the targeting of journalists at public protests by Turkish police forces including through the April 2021 directive by Turkey’s Security General Directorate (EGM) signed by its head, former governor Mehmet Aktaş, instructing Turkish police forces to prevent press recordings of protests and demonstrations that was subsequently suspended by the Council of State citing a restriction of fundamental rights; regrets the recurrent use of excessive force to suppress peaceful demonstrations amidst an overall general impunity of law enforcement officials; deplores the ongoing trial against the Cumartesi Anneleri (Saturday Mothers) at the Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance presided by judge Naim Atan in relation to the violent dispersal of their 700th vigil on 25 August 2018; reiterates its call on the authorities to drop charges against the students of Boğaziçi University prosecuted for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and highlights the relevance of ensuring academic freedom and the autonomy of universities; is concerned in this regard by the recent decision to remove three elected deans in Boğaziçi University, whose current rector, Naci İnci, was appointed by Presidential decree in August 2021

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Reiterates its serious concern about the disproportionate and arbitrary measures curtailing freedom of expression; welcomes the further decrease in the number of journalists in prison in Turkey; notes however that the practice of investigating and prosecuting people for matters such as insulting the President or allegedly disrespecting Islamic values remains on the rise, driven by broadly- worded and vague anti-terrorism claims; is appalled by the gross abuse of Article 299 of Turkish Penal Code on insulting the President which can carry a jail sentence of between one and four years; finds completely disproportionate that since 2014, the first year of President Erdoğan, more than 160,000 investigations were launched, more than35,500 cases were filed and there were more than 12,800 convictions over insulting the president; calls on Turkey’s authorities to apply the rulings by the European Court on Human Rights and to follow the Venice Commission recommendations in order to bring Turkish law on this matter in line with the Convention; is particularly worried by the case of journalist Sedef Kabaş, who after being publicly targeted by senior government officials was arrested during a midnight raid on January 22nd, by the order of Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace judge Furkan Bilgehan Ertem, and is kept in pre-trial detention at the Bakırköy Women's Prison in İstanbul for having allegedly insulted the President on alive broadcast on TELE1 TV on 14 January 2022; finds this case a clear example of the abusive use of Article 299 with an aim of having a chilling effect on any journalist or citizen who could express criticism towards the President or government; expresses concerns about the Presidential circular on "Press and Broadcasting Activities" published on 28January 2022 as it could imply unlawful restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asserts that the continued prosecution, censorship and harassment of journalists and independent media remains an issue of concern; calls the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), chaired by Ebubekir Şahin, to discontinue the excessive imposition of fines and broadcasting bans restricting the legitimate freedom of expression of Turkish journalists and broadcasters; calls the Press Advertising Agency (BIK), headed by Director General Rıdvan Duran, to ensure that bans on public advertising do not serve to supress independent media reporting, as in the case of the daily newspaper Evrensel, whose case represents a negative record in Turkey's press history, as it has not received any official advertising for 900 days and even if the BIK were to grant permission for advertisements immediately now, the daily newspaper will still not receive any advertising for 103 days due to the penalties imposed by the BIK in the meantime; calls on Fahrettin Altun, Director of Communications at the Turkish Presidency, to ensure the timely processing of press card applications and to discontinue the use of criminal complaints and belligerent rhetoric targeting journalists; calls on the Turkish Grand National Assembly to follow-up on the Turkish Constitutional Court’s judgement of January 2022 requesting to reformulate Article 9 of the Internet Law to protect the freedoms of expression and the press; is particularly alarmed by the case of the Turkish Cypriot journalist Ali Kashmir, who was recently prohibited from entering Turkey and faces court charges for having expressed criticism against Ankara;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Regrets that there is growing economic leverage on behalf of the government, including non-transparent distribution of public funds (advertising, public tenders), which allows almost complete control of mass media;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes note of the adoption of the fourth and fifth judicial packages in Turkey during 2021 which contain steps in the right direction although modest and not addressing the main concerns; asserts, however, that the current problems stem not only from problematic legislation, but are often caused by a failure to implement existing adequate provisions; remains concerned about the erosion of the rule of law and judicial independence in Turkey; notes in this regard the appointment of Irfan Fidan to the Turkish Constitutional Court in January 2021 after serving just twenty days on the Court of Cassation and previously acting as Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, where Mr Fidan was involved in the controversial cases brought against Osman Kavala, the Gezi Park protestors, and journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, among others; points out the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), which isled by the Minister of Justice as its president and Mr Mehmet Akif Ekinci as its acting president, as the main element of concern with regard to the lack of judicial independence; reiterates its call for the shortcomings in the structure and process for the selection of the members of this Council to be addressed with a view to ensuring its independence and putting an end to its arbitrary decisions;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Expresses concern about the high and growing number of applications lodged at the Constitutional Court concerning violations of constitutional rights and the lack of changes implemented when such violations are revealed; notes the recent statements by the President of the Constitutional Court, Zühtü Arslan, recognizing that over 73% of the more than 66.000 applications received in 2021 concerned the right for a fair trial, describing this as a “dire situation''; questions the legality of changes in the procedural rules of the court allowing to defer decisions by a year; notes the adoption of a new human rights action plan by the Turkish authorities in March 2021 as welcome in principle, even though it leaves a number of underlying issues unaddressed; calls on the Turkish government to make the action plan real by inter alia discontinuing the selective interpretation of the Treaty of Lausanne’s provisions on minority rights, including by granting legal personality and education rights to any religious minority whether Muslim, Christian or other; calls on Turkey’s government to step up ongoing efforts related, among others, to the public recognition of the Alevi identity, the legal status of cemevis and their funding, in compliance with relevant ECtHR judgments on compulsory religion and ethics classes and Alevi worship places; urges Turkey’s authorities to increase their efforts to effectively address the dire situation of Roma, in particular with regard to housing and education, as they continue to suffer severe levels of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and exclusion; Calls on the full implementation of ECtHR judgments regarding conscientious objection; notes in this regard the action plan submitted by Turkish authorities to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and encourages them to develop further measures to ensure, through the necessary legislation, a fair and accessible exercise of the right to conscientious objection to military service;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Regrets the sustained pressure on civil society and human rights defenders and the continuously shrinking space to operate freely in Turkey; denounces the intimidation, harassment and violence exerted against human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, academics, doctors who have provided assistance to the victims of torture, and other activists, especially those in the Kurdish community, and the arbitrary closure of civil society organisations, including prominent human rights non- governmental organisations and media; reiterates its call on Turkey’s government to review the Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction of December 2020, which grants the Turkish Interior Ministry and the president extensive authority to restrict the activities of non- governmental organisations, business partnerships, independent groups and associations and appears to be aimed at further limiting, restricting and controlling civil society; calls on the EU and its Member States to exert greater pressure on the Turkish Government and to step up their support for human rights defenders and independent civil society in Turkey, including through relevant financial instruments; calls on the Commission to provide, through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III and relevant programmes of the NDICI-Global Europe instrument, sufficient funding for civil society, non- state actors and people-to-people contacts in order to prioritise the pro-democracy efforts; calls on the Commission to explore the funding of local governments concerning projects of mutual interest;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Continues to urge the Turkish Government to release Osman Kavala after more than four years of detention; ~~reiterates its call on the Turkish authorities to abide by the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in this case;~~ believes that he is unlawfully held in prison on unjustified charges, for the purpose of silencing and deterring critical voices in Turkey; reiterates its call on the Turkish authorities to abide by the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in this case; deplores the continued efforts to extend Mr Kavala’s imprisonment through a series of complex evasive judicial tactics; points out as one of many irregularities the irrational merging of his case with that of other defendants that saw their acquittals overturned over the course of 2021 which was signed off by the same judge who had requested it, Mahmut Başbuğ from the 30th Heavy Penal Court, through a temporary appointment from one court to the other; condemns the repeated decisions by the Istanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court and the Istanbul 13thHeavy Penal Court, newly responsible after merging of the cases and presided by judge Mesut Özdemir, to prolong the detention of Mr Kavala in violation of his right to freedom and security, most recently on 17 January 2022; takes note of the recurrent decisions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urging Mr Kavala’s release, which culminated in the historical launching of infringement proceedings through interim-resolutions in December 2021 and February 2022 over Turkey’s refusal to abide by the ECtHR’s final judgement;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Calls upon the Turkish authorities to demonstrate zero tolerance towards all incidents of physical and verbal abuse or threats against journalists, activists, trade unionists, members of political opposition and members of all minorities;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Expresses deep concern about the deterioration in the human rights situation for LGBTI people, in particular with regard to physical attacks – especially against transgender persons – the protracted bans on Pride marches across the country, restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, association and expression, and censorship in the media; deplores the increasingly homophobic stance of Turkey’s government and the use of hate speech against LGBTI people by high-level officials, that aims at stigmatizing and criminalizing the LGBTI community and can serve as breeding ground for hate crimes; follows with grave concern the ongoing trial against the Ankara Bar Association’s executive board and president, in which the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Chief Public Prosecutor Ahmet Akça, seeks up to two years of prison for allegedly “insulting a public officer” when criticizing the head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Ali Erbaş, for the openly homophobic statements he made in 14 April 2020 stating that "Islam curses homosexuality (...) because it brings about disease and rots generations"; urges Turkey’s authorities to put in place the necessary legal measures to end any discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in line with article 21 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes with great concern that the HDP and its party organisations have been specifically and continuously targeted by the Turkish authorities, leading to a situation where over 4 000 HDP members are currently in prison; continues to strongly condemn the continued detention since November 2016 of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, the former co-chairs of the HDP; is appalled by the Turkish authorities’ continuous disregard for and failure to apply the rulings of the ECtHR that oblige Turkey to immediately release Mr Demirtaş; condemns the indictment in pursuit of the HDP party’s closure and the political banning for nearly 500 HDP politicians, including most of its current leadership, that was filed by the Chief Public Prosecutor of Turkey’s Court of Cassation, Bekir Şahin, and accepted by unanimity by Turkey’s Constitutional Court in June 2021; notes with grave concern that the HDP dissolution case is the culmination of a crackdown on the party that has been going on for several years, and reiterates that banning the party would be a serious political mistake as an irreversible blow to pluralism and democratic principles; further highlights the role of the Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court in the so-called ‘Kobane case’ against 108 HDP politicians, and points to the special role of prosecutor Ahmet Altun, and in particular demands clarity over the alleged political interference documented among the file; further questions how the court managed to examine and accept a 3530-page document in a week, without hearing defendants; Is concerned by the ongoing case against CHP Vicechair Gökçe Gökçen, in the framework of an investigation against the whole Executive Board of the party for the publication and distribution of a booklet; is shocked by the fact that, among the three lawsuits filed against her, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Chief Public Prosecutor Ahmet Akça, charged her with the crime of physically assaulting the president, which comes with a minimum five year prison sentence, related to this brochure’s publication; notes that, while this lawsuit has been dismissed by the Ankara18th High Criminal Court, the other two lawsuits for slander, incitement towards hatred and defamation against the President still continue; remains seriously concerned about the continuous political and judicial harassment of Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul provincial chair of the CHP, through a growing number of lawsuits against her;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Condemns the recurrent use of revocation of the parliamentary status of opposition MPs, which seriously damages the Turkish Parliament’s image as a democratic institution; recalls in this regard the recent judgement by the ECtHR of 1 February 2022 that ruled that the lifting in 2016 of the immunities of 40 MPs of the HDP infringed their right of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; follows with concern the ongoing summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the legislative immunity of HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel for alleged "membership of a terrorist organization" related to pictures taken 5 years ago; Reiterates its condemnation of the decision made by the Turkish authorities to remove democratically elected mayors from office on the basis of questionable evidence and replace them with unelected trustees, which undermines local democracy; notes the political, legislative and administrative measures taken by the Turkish Government to paralyse municipalities run by the mayors of opposition parties in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Leila CHAIBI, Petros KOKKALIS, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

~~19.~~ Recognises that Turkey has ~~19.~~ legitimate security concerns and the right to fight terrorism; stresses, nevertheless, that this must be done with full respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms; ~~reiterates its firm and unambiguous condemnation of the violent terrorist attacks by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been on the EU list of terrorist organisations since 2002~~notes that cases of enforced disappearances still occur in this context, such as the case of Yusuf Bilge Tunç, reiterates its firm and unambiguous condemnation of the violent terrorist attacks; regrets the overly broad anti- terrorism provisions and the abuse of the anti-terror measures that continue to be used as the means for the repression of human rights and of any critical voice in the country, including journalists, activists and political opponents; is deeply concerned by the decision of the Minister of Interior to open a special investigation into the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality affecting over 550 of its employees for alleged terror links, andby the renewed judicial harassment against Mr. Öztürk Türkdoğan, a prominent human rights lawyer and Co-Chairperson of the Human Rights Association (İHD)who is being tried by the Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court under the accusation of “membership to an illegal armed organisation” following his indictment by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Chief Public Prosecutor Ahmet Akça;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10) The increase in the price for fossil fuels ~~may~~will disproportionally affect vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and vulnerable transport users who spend a larger part of their incomes on energy and transport, ~~who, in certain regions, do not have access to alternative, affordable mobility and transport solutions~~aggravating the pre- existing inequalities. Vulnerable households and vulnerable enterprises mostly do not have access to alternative, affordable mobility and transport solutions including in remote, insular areas and carbon intensive regions with high unemployment rates, and who may lack the financial capacity to invest into the reduction of, and ultimately cut, reliance on fossil fuel consumption.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Petros KOKKALIS, Leila CHAIBI, Marisa MATIAS, Cornelia ERNST, Manuel BOMPARD, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, José GUSMÃO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) Therefore, a part of the revenues generated by ~~the inclusion of building and road transport into the scope of~~ Directive 2003/87/EC should be used to address the social impacts arising from th~~at inclusion~~e higher energy prices due to the reliance of fossil fuels, for the transition to be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 b (new)

(14b) Workers in the building and renovation sectors are particularly at risk of exposure to asbestos. Therefore, requirements for the mandatory asbestos screening, registering, and removal of asbestos and other dangerous substances are needed before any renovation works start. Energy renovations shall be the opportunity to safely remove asbestos from buildings.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Petros KOKKALIS, Leila CHAIBI, Manuel BOMPARD, Cornelia ERNST, Marisa MATIAS, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, José GUSMÃO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) Member States, in consultation with ~~regional level authorities,~~national parliaments, regional and local level authorities, social partners, including trade unions, and civil society organisations are best placed to design and to implement Plans that are adapted and targeted to their local, regional and national circumstances as their existing policies in the relevant areas and planned use of other relevant EU funds. In that manner, the broad diversity of situations, the specific knowledge of civil society, social partners, and of local and regional governments, research and innovation and industrial relations and social dialogue structures, as well as national traditions, can best be respected and contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall support to the vulnerable.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Petros KOKKALIS, Leila CHAIBI, Manuel BOMPARD, Cornelia ERNST, Marisa MATIAS, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, José GUSMÃO

Petros KOKKALIS, Leila CHAIBI, Manuel BOMPARD, Cornelia ERNST, Marisa MATIAS, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, José GUSMÃO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19 a (new)

(19a) Citizen participation and empowerment are essential to increase public acceptance and accelerate the green transition. In this regard, renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities can act as an effective intermediary in helping advance energy efficiency in households and therefore fighting energy poverty, inter alia because of their non-commercial purpose, the concern for community as well as their inclusive decision-making model. To unlock the socially innovative potential of energy communities, Member States should be able to leverage the fund to create enabling conditions to support renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities to set up initiatives towards energy poverty alleviation and promote participation of vulnerable households, households affected by energy poverty, low-income households, vulnerable microenterprises and vulnerable transport users.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1

1. Each Member State shall submit to the Commission a Social Climate Plan (‘the Plan’) together with the update to the integrated national energy and climate plan referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in accordance with the procedure and timeline laid down in that Article, following the consultation process set in Article 3a. The Plan shall contain a coherent set of measures and investments to a~~ddress the impact of carbon pricing~~ccelerate the decarbonisation of transport and buildings and to pre- emptively and concurrently address the impact of energy and transport poverty on vulnerable households, vulnerable micro- enterprises and vulnerable transport users in order to ensure affordable heating, cooling and mobility while accompanying and accelerating necessary measures to meet the climate targets of the Union while having the objective of reducing climate inequalities. The plan should also focus on the creation of sustainable quality jobs in the mobility and construction sectors.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

(d) where the Plan provides for measures referred to in Article 3(2), the criteria for the identification of eligible final recipients, the indication of the envisaged time limit for the measures in question and their justification on the basis of a quantitative estimate and a qualitative explanation of how the long-term measures in the Plan such as renovation measures and investment in public transport infrastructure are expected to reduce energy and transport poverty and the vulnerability of households, micro- enterprises and transport users to an increase of road transport and heating fuel prices;

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point h

(h) an explanation of how the Plan ensures that no investment or measure, included in the Plan does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, does not finance projects linked to fossil fuel and promotes high quality employment and decent working conditions; the Commission shall provide technical guidance to the Member States targeted to the scope of the Fund to that effect; no explanation is required for the measures referred to in Article 3(2);

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a

(a) support quality building renovations, especially for those occupying worst- performing buildings, including in the form of financial support ~~or fiscal incentives~~, including on-bill such ~~as deductibility of renovation costs from the rent~~emes or specific support for the renovation of social housing, independently of the ownership of the buildings concerned;

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Leila CHAIBI, Petros KOKKALIS, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, José GUSMÃO, Manuel BOMPARD, Cornelia ERNST, Marisa MATIAS, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b

(b) contribute to the decarbonisation, including the electrification, of heating and cooling of, and cooking in, buildings and the integration of energy from renewable sources that contribute to the achievements of energy savings; including but not limited to grants and incentives for energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby and the development and functioning of urban renewable energy communities; such as vouchers, subsidies, third-party payment, to invest in products and services to increase the energy performance of buildings or to integrate renewable energy sources in buildings;

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Petros KOKKALIS, Leila CHAIBI, Manuel BOMPARD, Cornelia ERNST, Marisa MATIAS, Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ, Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, Özlem DEMIREL, Konstantinos ARVANITIS, José GUSMÃO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

(ba) support for energy poor and vulnerable households own on-site renewable energy generation and participation in renewable energy cooperatives and energy community projects;

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii a (new)

(iiia) whether the Plan is expected to ensure that no measure or investments included in the plan benefits to companies that do not respect applicable working and employment conditions resulting from relevant collective agreements and social and labour law at national, Union and international levels (International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions), inter alia in the field of awareness of conditions of employment, remuneration, working time, health and safety, housing, gender equality, free movement of workers, equal treatment, posting of workers, conditions of stay of third- country nationals, protection in the event of termination of employment, temporary agency work, social protection, social security coordination.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii b (new)

(iiib) whether the Plan is expected to have a lasting positive impact regarding the creation of sustainable quality jobs.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 a (new)

Article 22 a Visibility of support from the Fund 1. Each Member State shall ensure: (a) the visibility for intermediaries and final beneficiaries of Union support in all activities relating to operations supported by the Fund; (b) communication to Union citizens of the role and achievements of the Fund through a single website portal providing access to all programmes involving that Member State. 2. Member States shall acknowledge, and where applicable shall ensure that intermediary entities acknowledge, support from the Fund and the origin of those funds by: (a) ensuring the visibility of the Union funding to the final beneficiaries and the public, including by displaying the emblem of the Union in accordance with Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060; (b) providing, where applicable, on their official website and social media sites, a short description of the operation, proportionate to the level of support, including its aims and results, and highlighting the financial support from the Union; (c) displaying for operations involving physical investment or equipment durable plaques or billboards clearly visible to the final beneficiaries and the public, that present the emblem of the Union, as soon as the physical implementation of operations involving physical investment starts or purchased equipment is installed; (d) communicating for operations involving financial instruments, including for temporary direct income support in accordance with Article 6(1), the amount of support from the Fund to the final recipients. 3. Where a Member State does not comply with the obligations under paragraphs 1 and 2, and where remedial actions have not been put into place, the Commission shall apply measures, taking into account the principle of proportionality, by cancelling up to 5% per year of the support from the Fund to the Member State concerned.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

(ga) information on the involvement of trade union organisations and employers' organisations, local and regional authorities, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Plan.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(gb) when applicable, detailed information on the number of sustainable quality jobs created through measures and investments supported by the Social Climate Fund.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0206(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2

2. The ~~Commission shall monitor the implementation of the Fund and measure the achievement of its objectives. The~~implementation and the measurement of the objectives achievements of the Fund shall be monitored under the Partnership Principal and include mandatory involvement of the national parliaments and local and regional authorities. The Commission monitoring of implementation shall be targeted and proportionate to the activities carried out under the Fund.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2

It shall apply from the date by which the Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Directive (EU) [yyyy/nnn] of the European Parliament and the Council64 amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards Chapter IVa of Directive 2003/87/EC. _________________ 64 [Directive (EU) yyyy/nnn of the European Parliament and of the Council…. (OJ …..).] [Directive amending Directive 2003/87/EC]1st of January 2023.

2022/02/23
Committee: EMPL ENVI

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8

(8) The ultimate beneficiaries of better sustainability reporting by undertakings are ~~individual citizens and savers~~public authorities, trade union, workers and their representatives, individual citizens and savers. Policy makers and public authorities need this information in order to design and implement public policies, and in particular to protect people's rights and the environment, to hold undertakings accountable for their impacts and to conduct a just social and environmental transition. Trade unions, workers and their representatives need this information in order to be adequately informed about their company's activities and to be able to better engage in social dialogue. Savers who want to invest sustainably will have the opportunity to do so, while all citizens should benefit from a stable, sustainable and inclusive economic system. To realise these benefits, the sustainability information disclosed in undertaking’s annual reports first has to reach twohree primary groups (‘users’). The first group of users consists of policy makers and public authorities. The second group of users consists of investors, including asset managers, who want to better understand the risks and opportunities that sustainability issues pose to their investments and the impacts of those investments on people and the environment. The ~~secon~~third group of users consists of organisations, including non- governmental organisations and social partners, that wish to better hold undertakings to account for their impacts on people and the environment. Other stakeholders may also make use of sustainability information disclosed in annual reports. The business partners of undertakings, including customers, may rely on this information to understand, and where necessary report on, the sustainability risks and impacts through their own value chains. Policy makers and environmental agencies may also use such information, in particular on an aggregate basis, to monitor environmental and social trends, to contribute to environmental accounts, and to inform public policy. Few individual citizens and consumers directly consult undertaking’s reports, but they may use such information indirectly such as when considering the advice or opinions of financial advisers or non-governmental organisations. Many investors and asset managers purchase sustainability information from third party data providers, who collect information from various sources, including public corporate reports.

2021/12/10
Committee: EMPL

2021/0104(COD)