16 Amendments of Philip CLAEYS related to 2013/2945(RSP)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
– having regard to the fact that accession negotiations with Turkey were opened on 3 October 2005 and that the opening of such negotiations is the starting point for a long-lasting and open-ended process based on fair and rigorous conditionality and the commitment to reform, in spite of the fact that Turkey is not a European country and for that reason cannot join the EU,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the fact that, in its 2013 Enlargement Strategy, the Commission concluded that, for its economy, strategic location and important regional role, Turkey is a strategic partner for the European Union and a valuable component of EU economic competitiveness and that important progress on reforms was made in the preceding twelve months; having regard to the fact that the Commission called for further reforms and the promotion of dialogue across the political spectrum in Turkey and in Turkish society at largeshould therefore be offered the status of a privileged partnership,
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes 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 monthsshould therefore be offered the status of a privileged partnership; 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 the respect of fundamental rights in practice;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes the transformative power of negotiations between the Union and Turkey, which have provided Turkey with a clear reference for its reform process; stresses therefore the importance of credible negotiations based on a mutual commitment by Turkey and the Union to effective reforms furthering the democratic foundations of Turkish society, promoting fundamental values and producing positive change in the institutions, in legislation and, in the mentality of society; welcomes, therefore the opening of Chapter 22 in certain areas;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of achieving a common understanding between Turkey and the EU on the relevance for both the EU and Turkey of the readmission agreement and the roadmap leading to visa liberalisation; recalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for irregular migration to the EU and therefore calls on Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay; calls on the Commission in parallel to take steps towards visa liberalisation and stresses the clear benefits of facilitating access to the EU for business people, academics, students and representatives of civil societRecalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for irregular migration to the EU and therefore calls on Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the urgent need for further progress in implementing the 2010 constitutional amendments, in particular the adoption of laws on the protection of personal data and military justice, and of laws introducing affirmative-action measures to promote gender equality;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the implementation of the third judicial reform package has led to the release of a significant number of detainees and welcomes the fourth judicial reform package as another important step towards a judiciary in Turkey in line with EU standards and values; notes, in particular, (i) the new, important distinction between freedom of expression and incitement to violence or to committing acts of terrorism, (ii) the limitation of the offence of praising a crime or a criminal to instances where there is a clear and imminent danger to public order and (iii) the narrowing down of the scope of the offence of committing a crime in the name of an organisation, without being a member of it, to armed organisations only;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Strongly supports the Government’s initiative to strive for a settlement of the Kurdish problem on the basis of negotiations with the PKK; encourages the Government to devise the reforms directed at promoting the social, cultural and economic rights of the Kurdish community on the basis of adequate consultation of relevant stakeholders and the opposition; calls on the opposition to actively support the negotiations and the reforms as an important step for the benefit of Turkish society at large; calls on the Turkish authorities to cooperate closely with the European Commission to assess which programs under IPA could be used to promote sustainable development in the South East in the framework of negotiations on Chapter 22;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes the continuing efforts by Turkey and Greece to improve their bilateral relations including through bilateral meetings; considers it regretunacceptable, however, that the casus belli threat declared by the TGNA against Greece has not been withdrawn;
Amendment 264 #
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 for both communities; asks Turkey to actively 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; calls on Turkey to begin the full withdrawingal of its forces from Cyprus and to transfer the sealed-off area of Famagusta 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 directly in a legal manner that is acceptable to all; takes note of the proposals by the Government of Cyprus to address the above issues;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Turkish Government to recognise as such the genocide perpetrated in 1915 and 1916 against the Armenians, in which according to scholarly studies cost the lives of more than 1.5 million people;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes Turkey’s commitment to the provision of humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees; 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 Islamist 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;