23 Amendments of Sir Graham WATSON related to 2013/2945(RSP)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the Customs Union (Decision 1/95),
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to the visa dialogue between the EU and Turkey, which has been launched in December 2013 and is paving the way for visa free travel for Turkish citizens,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the fact that Turkey, for the eighth consecutive year, has still not implemented the provisions stemming from the EC-Turkey Association Agreement and the Additional Protocol thereto as well as the failure of the European Union to lift the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community promised in the EU Council Conclusions of 26 April 2004,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the 2013 Progress Report on Turkey and shares the Commission's conclusion that Turkey is a strategic partner for the European Union and that important progress on reforms was made in the preceding twelve months; underlines the importance and urgent need of further reforms and the promotion of dialogue across the political spectrum and in society more broadly, as well as through accepting, respecting and empowering civil society to consolidate democracy and to ensure the respect of fundamental rights in practice;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that a renewed mutual engagement in the context of the negotiation process is needed to maintain a constructive relationship; stresses the importance of creating the conditions for a constructive dialogue and the foundations for a common understanding;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Raises concerns about the erosion of the principle of separation of powers; is deeply concerned about the way the government responded to the on-going corruption operation by the Istanbul prosecutor against several ministers and businessmen; condemns the dismissal of police chiefs responsible for the corruption-related operation by the Minister of Interior who had been subject to the allegations; notes the worrying dismissal of all police chiefs responsible for anti-corruption and organized crime in major cities;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Is worried about the allegations of systematic profiling of the government of civil servants, journalists, academics, civil society organizations based on their religious, ethnic and political affiliation; condemns the heavy pressure of the government on the courts and public condemnation of the prosecutor and police chiefs by the Prime Minister; calls every individual and institution to fully respect the rule of law and guarantee the impartiality and independence of the judiciary;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes and urges the implementation of the democratiszation package presented by the Government on 30 September 2013 and calls on the Government to duly consult the opposition and relevant civil society organiszations in the preparation of the implementing legislation and to continue with its reform efforts towards revision of the electoral system, including the lowering of the 10% threshold, and the adequate inclusion of all components of Turkish society; calls on the Government to ensure that the legislation on hate crimes offers protection for all citizens, including minorities and LGBTI people; calls on the government to present a reform package with no delay where some of the vital issues, such as Alevi question, that are not included by the democratization package of 30 September, will be addressed;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the establishment of new institutions, namely the Ombudsman Institution and the Turkish National Human Rights Institution which have become operational in 2013, thus creating additional mechanisms for individuals to apply for the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses concerns at the very limited coverage of the Gezi Park events by Turkish media and the dismissal of journalists who criticised the Government’'s reactions to such events; recalls that freedom of expression and media pluralism are at the heart of European values and that an independent press is crucial to a democratic society; reiterates once again its concern at the fact that most media are owned by and concentrated in, large conglomerates with a wide range of business interests and points out to the worrying widespread phenomenon of self- censorship by media owners and journalists; is concerned about the dismissal of journalists from positions in the media due to criticism of the government; is deeply concerned about the procedures used to punish the owners of the critical media; raises concerns about the implications of accreditation by state institutions mainly targeting the opposition media, expresses concern at the particularly high number of journalists currently in pre-trial detention and calls on Turkey’'s judicial authorities to review and address these cases as soon as possible;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the establishment of individual application to the Turkish Constitutional Court which enables Turkish citizens to use their right of individual application first in the Constitutional Court before they applied to the ECHR;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Encourages the government to establish a consistent and consolidated National Education Policy in collaboration with all the stakeholders; stresses, in light of the above, that the freedom of establishment should be ensured, where no interlocutor within education system, including private entities, is excluded from the decision- making process;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is of the opinion that social dialogue and involvement of social partners are vital for the development of a prosperous society; Underlines the importance of further progress in the areas of social policy and employment, in particular to remove all obstacles to the effective functioning of trade unions, to establish a national employment strategy, address undeclared work, widen the coverage of social protection mechanisms, and increase employment rates among women and people with disabilities; stresses the importance of opening Chapter 19 on social policy and employment;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates its strong support for the reunification of Cyprus, based on a fair and viable settlement with established UN parameters of bi-zonality, bi-communality and political equality for both communities; asks Turkey to activelycontinue to support the negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General and in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions; urges all sides to commit to negotiations to facilitate free movement of goods, services, capital, people and resolve property issues on Cyprus; calls on Turkey to begin withdrawing its forces from Cyprus and to transfer the sealed-off area of FamagustaVarosha 1 to the UN in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984); calls on the Republic of Cyprus to open the port of Famagusta, under EU customs supervision, in order to promote a positive climate for the successful solution of the ongoing reunification negotiations, and to allow Turkish Cypriots to trade directlyallow the adoption of the Direct Trade Regulation2 which would enable the Turkish Cypriots to trade directly with the EU in a manner that is acceptable to all and to promote a positive climate for the successful solution of the ongoing reunification negotiations; __________________ 1 There is a factual mistake - UN Resolution 550 asks Turkey to begin withdrawing its forces from Varosha, which ins a legal manner that is acceptable to all; takes note ofquarter of Famagusta city. Famagusta can also in this case be mistakenly interpreted as the entire district. 2 In 2004, the EC proposals by the Government of Cyprus to address the above issues; ed a free trade agreement with North Cyprus, however it has been stalled ever since in the Council (even though the Lisbon Treaty has entered into force).
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes Turkey’s decision to grant the Committee on Missing Persons access to a fenced military areazones in the northern part of Cyprus and further encourages Turkey to allow the Committee tocontinue supporting intensively the work of the Committee, for example allowing access to relevant archives and military zones for exhumation; calls for special consideration for the work done by the Committee on Missing Persons;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the importance of a coherent and comprehensive security approach in the Eastern Mediterranean, and calls on Turkey and all other parties to allow political dialogue between the EU and NATO by lifting its veto onincluding EU-NATO cooperation includingon Cyprus, and calls, in parallel,onsequently calls on the Republic of Cyprus to lift its veto on Turkey’s participation inand allow fulfilment of Turkey’s commitments towards the European Defence Agency;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. DeploRegrets that Turkey’s refusal to fulfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory has not implementation ofed the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement towards all Member States; recalls that this refusal continues to have a profound effect on the negotiation processe non-settlement of the Cyprus issue continues to affect EU-Turkey relations and therefore calls on all sides concerned to make a concerted effort towards its resolution;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the importance of free trade agreements (FTA) to establish global value chains and boost the EU’s global competitiveness; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive dialogue and cooperation with Turkey regarding FTA negotiations with third countries, to fully benefit from these agreements taking into account the high level of economic and industrial integration between the EU and Turkey, as well as the obligation to conduct the Common Commercial Policy within the Customs Union that requires the Parties to have the same preferential trade regimes;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Calls on the Commission to develop closer coordination with Turkey in the TTIP negotiations to make full use of the EU’s and Turkey’s joint economic potential;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Notes that road transportation restrictions between the EU and Turkey create an obstacle to further development of bilateral trade between the parties; asks the Commission, the Member States and Turkey to find a mutually acceptable solution for those issues;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that, in view of Turkey’s strategic role as an energy hub and plentiful renewable energy resources, consideration should be given to the value of opening negotiations on Chapter 15 on energy; underlines that climate change, renewable energy and climateenergy efficiency priorities need to be addressedand the mutual benefits of linking the EU and Turkey’s electricity transmission networks need to be addressed given in particular forecasts for significant growth in Turkey’s energy demand in coming decades;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes Turkey’s commitment to the provision of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees; is worried about the social and economic burden of these refugees particularly on the neighbouring cities of Turkey, notes that a large number of foreign fighters in Syria gain access to Syria via Turkey and asks Turkey to increase border patrols, restrict the entry of fighters and arm flows to groups credibly found to be implicated in systematic human rights violations; believes that the EU and Turkey should actively seek to develop a joint strategic vision to promote a political solution in Syria and support political and economic stability in the region, with particular reference to Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq;