46 Amendments of Frédérique RIES related to 2021/2250(INI)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
— – Having Regard to Turkey’s membership in the Council of Europe and in NATO;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
— having regard to the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on ‘Restrictions on NGO activities in Council of Europe Member States';1a _________________ 1a PACE report on Restrictions on NGO activities in Council of Europe Member States, accessible at https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref -XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=28906⟨=en
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Turkey, besides being a candidate for EU accession, is a key partner in relation to the economy, trade and migration, as well as a strategic partner is a major neighbour and partner of the EU and is candidate to accession ;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
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, 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 on the condition of improvements in EU-Turkey relations and the respect for democratic values and the rule of law by the Turkish government;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingness to progressively approach in all aspects the values, interests, standards and policies of the EU and to respect and uphold the Copenhagen criteria and to align itself with EU policies and objectives; 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 considerablevast and is even growing in fundamental areas such as respect for international law, the rule of law and human rights; Whereas the links between Turkish civil society and pro-democratic forces and the EU remain strong, as the EU is deeply committed to provide support to Turkish citizens and organisations that promote European norms and values;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas over the past year, EU- Turkey relations have on average remained stable, asdespite enhanced cooperation and dialogue on a number of issues have coexisted with, EU-Turkey relations have suffered regular conflicts; whereas this report reflects this situation by welcoming positive developments and pointing to further potential in the relationship, while signalling remaining significant problems, in particular as regards violations of international law, the rule of law and fundamental rights;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas bans on Pride events have constituted significant curtailment to the freedom of association and expression for LGTBI persons, justified by the ‘need to protect participants against terror threats’, ‘protection of public morals’, ‘social sensitivities’, the risk of these events ‘inciting hatred and enmity’ or to ‘prevent crimes being committed’; whereas these reasons constitute deliberate attempts at undermining international human rights obligations and reflect the need for progress on protection of LGBTI people, namely in the fields of freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas Turkey’s interference in European democracies through efforts towards the Turkish diaspora is clearly documented, inparticular via the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB); whereas the Turkish Authorities actively called the Turkish diaspora to support “political parties that were not enemy of Turkey”.
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its concern about the persistent and growing distance between the EU and TurkeyTurkey’s government and EU values and standards, 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 without clear and significant progress in this field, Parliament cannot envisage any resumptfirmly insists therefore that, in line with the Negotiating Framework from October 2005, the Commission should recommend formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
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, aswith enhanced cooperation and dialogue through the high-level dialogues on a number of issues, while haveing coexisted with regular conflicts; expresses its hope that this pattern of ‘conflictual cooperation’ can be overcome and replaced with a more sustained and genuine positive dynamic;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes, however, that there has been that despite 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 hopeurges Turkish authorities to act so that this pattern of ‘conflictual cooperation’ can be overcome and replaced with a more positive dynamic;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its firm conviction that Turkey is a country of strategic relevancen important neighbour country in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a partner that is key forshould be actively involved in the stability of the wider region, and an ally with which the EU wishes to pursue the best possible relations; welcomes, in this view, NATO ally; acknowledges 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;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses its deep 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; expresses concern over the direct interference by the Turkish president in Turkish monetary policy; Calls for financial institutions such as the ECB or the IMF to provide technical support, if desired by the Turkish authorities;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses deep 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;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
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 obstacle to further progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey; considers that the adoption on March 2021 of an Action Plan on Human Rights shows a willingness to improve the overall situation of fundamental rights in Turkey; notes nevertheless that the commitment of the government will be measured by the extent of its implementation and the reforms undertaken to ensure its application to all citizens without discrimination;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
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 one of the main obstacles to further progress on any positive agenda that could be offered to Turkey;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
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) and expresses deep concern about the persistence of violences against women in Turkey;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its strong condemnation and regret 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);
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the importance of upholding the freedom of assembly in Turkey, which is enshrined in its constitution and a positive obligation derived from its membership of the European Convention of Human Rights;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
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 while regretting that Turkey still ranks among the countries where freedom of the press is the most attacked;
Amendment 246 #
10. Asserts thatCondemns the continued prosecution, censorship and harassment of journalists and independent media remains an issue of concerin Turkey; is concerned as well by the targeting of journalists and opponents in the European Union, as was the case of Turkish journalist Erk Acarer in Berlin;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Is worried by the increasing number of fake news in Turkish social media environment; is also worried by the spread of state propaganda, in particular from the state-run news agency Anadolu;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Takes note of the adoption of the fourth and fifth judicial packages in Turkey during 2021; 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 continuing erosion of the rule of law and judicial independence in Turkey;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the sustained pressureharassment onf civil society and human rights defenders and the continuously shrinking space to operate freely in Turkey; notes the grave impediment on their freedom to associate peacefully through the Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; is concerned by the observations from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights and Parliamentary Assembly, who point that human rights organisations were the first to be audited pursuant to this law; urges Turkey to review the articles of the Law which are not related to the prevention of financing or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in particular those articles which unduly target civil society;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the sustained pressurelegal and administrative pressure by the Turkish government on civil society and, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, academics, ethnic and religious minorities and numerous Turkish citizens and the continuously shrinking space to operate freely in Turkey;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses deep concern about the state-sponsored deterioration in the human rights situation for LGBTI people, in particular with regard to physical attackhate crimes – 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; and online; recalls the need to adopt measures to ensure all citizens can enjoy these freedom safely; calls on authorities to align its criminal legislation concerning homophobic and transphobic hate crime with ECRI’s General Policy Recommendation 7,1aas requested by ECRI in its 2019 conclusions1b; urges authorities to lift the protracted bans on Pride events; _________________ 1a ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 7 on National Legislation to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, accessible at https://rm.coe.int/ecri- general-policy-recommendation-no-7- revised-on-national-legislatio/16808b5aae 1b ECRI country monitoring conclusions on Turkey, accessible at https://rm.coe.int/interim-follow-up- conclusions-on-turkey-5th-monitoring- cycle-/168094ce03
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
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 and urges the Turkish government to protect their equal and legal rights;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Notes with concern the increasing hate speech and smear campaigns by high-ranking central government and public officials against LGBTI persons; considers that this constitutes a worrying trend and a powerful enabler of increased harassment, discrimination and potential violence; recalls that Turkey’s obligations under the ECHR entail a responsibility to combat discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons and urges authorities to deliver on their commitments;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Highlights the pattern of use of judicial proceedings to silence human rights defenders, NGOs and lawyers and to curtail activism, in particular LGBTI rights defenders;1a notes the examples of the criminal investigations against the Istanbul, Ankara and Diyarbakir bar associations and the case of the participants in the 2019 METU Pride; welcomes the acquittal of the latter; calls on Turkey to drop all charges against peaceful participants of LGBTI events; _________________ 1a Letter of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe of 17 June 2021 concerning the human rights of LGBTI people, accessible at https://rm.coe.int/letter-to-mr-suleyman- soylu-minister-of-interior-and-mr- abdulhamit-gul/1680a2e486
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Commends the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting the largest refugee population in the world of almost 4 million registered refugees; welcomes, in this regard, the continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustain this support in the future; recognizes the migratory pressure Turkey is facing, however firmly objects to any instrumentalisation of migrants by the Turkish government;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Acknowledges thatRecalls that, while Turkey can pursue its own foreign policy in line with its interests and goals, but expects this polic; deplores that only 14% of Turkey’s foreign policy actions are aligned with EU foreign policy and that this gap continues to widen; deplores also the way that Turkey has never aligned with EU restrictive measures, including that of economic sanctions; expects Turkey to be defended its interests through diplomacy and dialogue based on international law and, as a candidate country, to be increasingly aligned with that of the EU; notes in particular with concern that despite the military agression of Ukraine by the Federation of Russia with the support of Belarus, Turkey has refused to take sanctions against the Russian authorities responsible for this serious breach of international law;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Acknowledges that Turkey can pursue its own foreign policy in line with its interests and goals, but expects this policy to be defended through diplomacy and dialogue based on international law and, as a candidate country, to be increasingly aligned with that of the EU; deplores that Turkey's foreign policy alignment rate with EU foreign policy is a meagre 14%; believes that increased EU- Turkey cooperation can be achieved on multiple foreign policy areas such as on Ukraine and Afghanistan;
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the relative decrease in tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean during the past year, but remains fully awareconcerned that these positive dynamics could be reversed at any moment while the underlying issues remain unresolved underlying issues remain unresolved; expresses solidarity with EU member states which have suffered from these tensions and urges Turkey to refrain from any provocative statement or action towards EU Member States;
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls on Turkey to remain committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Libya under the auspices of the UN, to fully adhere to the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council and to not obstruct EU and NATO missions mandated to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Deplores the factRecalls that the unresolved conflict in Cyprus is a major obstacle to EU-Turkey relations; strongly reaffirms its view that the only sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue is that of a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality and political equality, in accordance with international law and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded; deeply regorets that Turkey has abandoned this UN framework;
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Recognizes the importance of a well-functioning NATO; deplores in this regard Turkey’s unilateral actions undermining NATO by purchasing Russian S-400 missiles; calls on the Turkish government to overcome these tensions by halting actions that go against the collective interests of the alliance;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Is worried by cases of rapprochement of Turkey, a NATO member, with Russia; going as far as watering down NATO responses, for instance, following the forced diversion of an EU plane over Belarus;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Takes note with deep concern of reports about Turkey’s violation of the UN arms embargo in Libya; deplores the persistent absence of efficient cooperation between NATO Operation Sea Guardian and EU Operation IRINI, due to Turkey’s opposition to this cooperation, which is detrimental to the implementation of the UN arms embargo;
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24 c. Is concerned by the attempts of the Turkish Government to influence members of the Turkish diaspora in the EU, in particular via the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), in order to interfere with EU democratic processes;
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 e (new)
Paragraph 24 e (new)
24 e. Calls on Turkey to cease all military interference in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia;
Amendment 536 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls on the Commission for full transparency and accuracy in the allocation of funds under the successor of the FRT and requests that it ensures that these funds are primarily given directly to the refugees and host communities and are managed by organisations that guarantee accountability and transparency;
Amendment 551 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that the varying priorities of the EU institutions set out in the existing frameworks governing EU-Turkey relations make it very difficult to find an effective way to move forward; deplores the lack of a long-term strategy, a coherent policy and consistent leadership towards Turkey in the EU and among all its institutions; calls on the EEAS to intensify transatlantic dialogue and cooperation with the Biden administration as regards to its relations with Turkey;
Amendment 558 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Welcomes the meeting in March 2022 of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and expresses in this regard the hope that the continued functioning of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee shall be restored;
Amendment 561 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Calls for the mutually beneficial modernisation of the Customs Union, accompanied with an effective and efficient dispute settlement mechanism;