33 Amendments of Hermann TERTSCH related to 2019/2176(INI)
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
– having regard to the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on Cyprus, including Resolution 541 (1983), Resolution 550 (1984) and, Resolution 789 (1992) and Resolution 2537 (2020),
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingnessimplies a firm commitment to comply with the obligations and to progressively approach in all aspects the values, interests, standardsregulatory framework and policies of the EU;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas an analysis of the Commission’s reports on Turkey since 2014 and, in particular, the 2019 and 2020 reports, reveals that Turkey has increasingly and rapidly distanced itself from the EU’s values and its normative frameworkcompliance with the rules of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, and that the continued centralisation of power in the Presidency, without ensuring a sound and effective separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches and the judiciary, has led to a political polarisation that is preventing constructive parliamentary dialogue;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, in spite of this principled stance by Parliament and all of the current circumstances, the European Council, in its conclusions of 1 October 2020, offered Turkey a renewed and broad positive agenda, provided that the respective constructive efforts are sustained, in a further attempt to restore our relations;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas Turkey regularly violates the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas, in 2019, Turkey expanded its drilling operations in the area west of Cyprus; whereas, in that regard, the European Council has reconfirmed the EU’s position on Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus and unequivocally reaffirmed its solidarity with Greece and Cyprus;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the Hagia Sophia has been turned back into a mosque, which has further increased tensions;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that Turkey’s continuous and growing distancing from European values and standards, in particular those aimed at preserving peace in Europe, has brought EU-Turkey relations to a historical low point, having deteriorated to such an extent that it requires both parties to profoundly reassess the current framework of relations;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned that, over the years, the lack of progress in Turkey’s convergence has now transformed into a full withdrawal, marked by a stark regression in three main areas: backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights, adopting regressive institutional reforms and pursuing a confrontational foreign policy; is further concerned by the fact that this regression has increasingly been accompanied by an explicit anti-EU narrative aimed at destabilising peace in Europe; calls, in this context, on Turkey to reassess the sincerfidelity of its repeated commitment to the EU path, as an indispensable componrequirement ofor the viability of the entire accession process;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that no incentiveducement that the EU could offer nor any of the repeated calls that the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament could make for Turkey to comply with its obligations can ever replace the much- needed political will to build a mature democracy and, in turn, become a member of the EU;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that, since Parliament’s last report, the situation, far from improving, has deteriorated even further; firmly insists, therefore, on the formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the current and planned multiannual financial framework, and the EU-Turkey Action Plan on migration, and on the end of all EIB loans to Turkey, in order for both sides to review in a realistic manner the appropriateness of the current framework and its ability to function, orand, if necessary, to explore possible new models for future relations;
Amendment 178 #
6. Regrets the current lack of understanding between the EU and Turkey, but reaffirms its firm conviction that Turkey is a strategic neighbour and ally with which the EU wishes to have the best possible relations, and reiterates that one of the guiding principles of EU action is to ensure the defence of the national sovereignty and external borders of the Member States, and, therefore, to protect the common European interests, values and objectives;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its will to strengthen and deepen mutual knowledge and understanding between Turkish and European societies, combating all manifestations of social, religious or cultural prejudice; expresses its full commitment to continue supporting Turkey’s independent civil society in whatever circumstances and framework of relations that the future may bring; believes, nevertheless, that the accession process would still be the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure on the Turkish government and the best framework to sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society; stresses that a purely transactional relationship will hardly contribute to the advancement of TurkeyTurkey should reconsider its actions and sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society, and advance towards a more democratic model;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with deep concern that, despite the formal lifting of the state of emergency in July 2018, itsthe adverse impacts on democracy and fundamental rights continues to be strongly felt;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes with great concern the way that the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has been specifically and continuously targeted by the Turkish authorities; strongly condemns the continued detention of former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaș and calls for his immediate release;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is alarmed by the consolidation of an authoritarian interpretation of the presidential system; is deeply concerned about the development of a constinuedtutional architecture that is hyper-centralisation of powered in the Presidency, which does not ensure a sound and effective separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches and the judiciary;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Is concerned about the ever more frequent use of a hyper-nationalist narrative among the ruling elite that increasingly gives rise to antagonistic approaches towards the EU orand its Member States; is concerned about the increasing clout of religious conservatism in political life;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Is concerned about the ever more frequent use of a hyper-nationalist narrative among the ruling elite that increasingly gives rise to antagonistic approaches towards the EU orand its Member States; is concerned about the incprogreassing clout of religious conservatism inve Islamisation of political life;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. EU-Turkey relations and Turkish foreign policy
Amendment 487 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls the laudable role playedsignificant commitment made by Turkey to the EU in respondingse to the migration crisies resulting from the war in Syria; takes the view that the EU should continue to giveand the reciprocal financial assistance that it is receiving, and regrets the ndecessary support to Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey; supports an objective assessment of the EU-Turkey Statement and underlines the importance of both parties’ision made in March by Ankara to encourage migrants and refugees to enter EU territory via the border with Greece; supports the suspension of European funding until there are clear signs of Turkey’s compliance with their respectiveits commitments;
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Stresses that a modernisation of the Customs Union could be beneficial for both parties and would keep Turkey economically and normatively anchored to the EU; reiterates that this would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and fundamental freedoms; highlights that it seems unrealistic to envisage any modernisation of the Customs Union given the current circumstances; recalls that the current Customs Unionit seems unrealistic to envisage any modernisation of the Customs Union, which would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and fundamental freedoms; recalls that the current Customs Union, which entered into force on 1 January 1996, will not achieve its full potential until Turkey fully implements the Additional Protocol in relation to all Member States, and proposes that it be suspended for a renewable period of six months;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is deeply concerned by the ongoing dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean and the related risk of a military escalation; condemns Turkey’s illegal activities in Greek and Cypriot waters, which violate both the sovereign rights of EU Member States and international law; expresses its full solidarity with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus; urges Turkey to engage in the peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from any unilateral and illegal action or threat, and calls on the European Council to take measures and impose severe sanctions in response to Turkey’s illegal activities;
Amendment 549 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Urges the Commission to express strong support for Greece and Cyprus, which are alone in facing Turkey’s attacks; invites all Member States to provide support to those countries, even military aid, and to help to strengthen control of the Union’s external borders in these areas, with respect for the sovereignty of the Member States in the field of foreign and security policy;
Amendment 553 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Requires Turkey to withdraw its army and stop drilling in the maritime areas of Cyprus and Greece, and urges the Commission to take firm steps to end this attack on the sovereignty of Member States;
Amendment 554 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Urges Turkey to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 566 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Condemns the partial reopening of Varosha beach, which undermines mutual trust and therefore the prospect of the resumption of direct talks on the comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus issue; calls on Turkey to reverse this action; reiterates its support for a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality;
Amendment 578 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Urges the EU to take steps with regard to Turkey to ensure the defence of the sovereignty not only of Cyprus and Greece, but also of all EU Member States, their external borders and, therefore, common European interests;
Amendment 581 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Calls on the EU, at the same time as taking the appropriate steps, to strongly urge Turkey to immediately stop its provocative, illegal and unconstructive attitude towards Greece, Cyprus and the EU as a whole;
Amendment 582 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 c (new)
Paragraph 28 c (new)
28c. Recalls that the borders of Greece, Cyprus and Spain, among others, are European borders; urges the EU to provide the necessary support to Member States that suffer systematic violations of their sovereignty and borders and that have the same concerns about these problems, which are common and not isolated;
Amendment 605 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on Turkey to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Libya under the auspices of the UN, and to fully adhere to the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council and to cease its harassment, as in the case of France due to Turkey’s military aggression against the Courbet frigate when the vessel was helping to apply the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations on Libya;
Amendment 660 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Believes that, given the constant violations of European and international law, it is high time to review the EU’s relations with Turkey and to define a comprehensive, unified and coherent strategy for the medium to long term, among all EU institutions and Member States;
Amendment 674 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Takes the view that both the EU and Turkey are aware that it is necessary and vital to develop a constructive, friendly and respectful attitude in their relations and that enhancing communication and dialogue at all levels are key to restoring a relationship of mutual trust between the EU and Turkey that can form a solid and lasting foundation for further constructive development, constant improvement of people’s lives and the maintenance of peace; deplores the continuous and unjustified refusal of the Turkish side to reinstate the normal functioning of the EU- Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee;