Activities of Antigoni PAPADOPOULOU related to 2012/2870(RSP)
Plenary speeches (1)
2012 progress report on Turkey (debate)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6a (new)
Citation 6a (new)
- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
– having regard to the fact that Turkey has committed itself to reforms, good neighbourly relations and progressive alignment with the EU, and that these efforts should be viewed as an opportunity for Turkey itself to continue to modernise, and consolidate and further improve its democratic institutions, the rule of law and the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to the fact that in its conclusions of 11 December 2012 the Council endorsed the Commission's new approach, though not applicable to Turkey, to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement policy and confirmed the centrality in the negotiating process of chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights and chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security, which should be tackled early in the negotiations to allow clear benchmarks and maximum time to establish the necessary legislation, institutions and solid track records of implementation,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15a (new)
Citation 15a (new)
- having regard to the fact that, for its own benefit and with a view to enhancing stability and promoting good neighbourly relations and positive political and economic partnership, Turkey needs to step up efforts to solve outstanding bilateral issues with its immediate neighbours, in line with international law and UN resolutions,
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Commends the Commission and Turkey for the implementation of the positive agenda, which proves how, in a context of mutual engagement and clear objectives, Turkey and the EU could advance their dialogue, achieve common understanding and produce positive change; 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; takes the view that the acceleration of the pace of negotiations depends solely on Turkey's political will to fulfil the benchmarks, to meet the requirements of the Negotiating Framework and to respect its contractual obligations vis-à-vis the EU;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses Turkey's strategic role, politically and geographically, for the foreign policy of the EU and its neighbourhood policy; recognises Turkey's role as an important regional player and calls on the EU and Turkey to further reinforce their existing political dialogue on foreign policy choices and objectives; regrets Turkey's non compliance with EU positions in international fora as well as the fact that the alignment of Turkey with CFSP declarations continued to be low in 2012; encourages Turkey to develop its foreign policy in the framework of dialogue and coordination with the EU;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Council decision to invite the Commission to take steps towards visa liberalisation as a gradual and long term perspective, in parallel with the signature of the readmission agreement; urges Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay and to ensure that, until this agreement enters into force and is fully and effectively implemented towards all Member States, existing bilateral agreements are fully implemented; recalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for illegal migration to the EU and underlines the need to intensify cooperation with the EU on migration management, the fight against human trafficking and, border controls, and ensuring Turkey's effective cooperation with all Member States on Justice and Home Affairs issues; stresses once again the importance of facilitating access to the EU for business people, academics, students and representatives of civil society from Turkey; supports the efforts of the Commission and the Member States to implement the visa code, harmonise and simplify visa requirements and create visa facilitating centres in Turkey; Reminds the Member States of their commitments under the association agreement in line with the Soysal Ruling of the European Court of Justice of 19 February 2009;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages Turkey to adopt the Human Rights Action Plan as prepared by the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in order to address issues raised in judgements of the ECtHR where Turkey was found to violate the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); urges Turkey to intensify its efforts towards full implementation of ECtHR case law and supports the Ministry of Justice and the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HCoJP) in providing judges and prosecutors with human rights training; welcomes the establishment by the HCoJP of new assessment criteria for judges and prosecutors rewarding respect for the provisions of the ECHR and judgements of the ECtHR;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8a (new)
Paragraph 8a (new)
8a. Reiterates its concern about the practice of bringing criminal prosecutions against human rights defenders, activists and journalists who communicate evidence of human rights violations or raise other issues in the public interest; considers the criminalisation of opinions as a key obstacle to the full protection of human rights in Turkey;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that freedom of expression and media pluralism are core European values and that a truly democratic society requires true freedom of expression, including the right of dissent; underlines the importance of abolishing legislation providing for disproportionately high fines on the media, leading in some cases to their closure or to self-censorship, and the urgent need to reform the internet law; insists that any trials against journalists should be carried out in a transparent manner, respecting the rule of law and ensuring appropriate conditions, such as providing venues that are suited to the type of hearings being held, distributing accurate transcripts to detained persons and providing information to the journalists regarding the charges brought against them;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Law on the protection of family and prevention of violence against women; commends the National Action Plan to combat Violence against Women (2012-2015) and stresses the need to enforce it effectively nationwide; calls on the Ministry for Family and Social Policies to continue its efforts to increase the number and quality of shelters for women and minors in danger; stresses the importance to provide women who have been victims of violence with concrete alternatives and self-sustainment prospects; urges Turkey to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women and to continue to step up its preventive efforts at all levels in the fight against ‘"honour killings’", domestic violence and the phenomenon of forced marriages and child brides; calls on the Ministry to continue to actively promote women's participation in the labour market, which remains low, in politics and at senior level in the administration and the private sector, if necessary by foreseeing reserved quotas;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the urgent need for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and the establishment of an anti- discrimination and equality board to protect individuals against discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or sexual identity; calls on Turkey to adopt an action plan to combat homophobia and to promote the full equality of rights and full acceptance of LGBT persons;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a (new)
Paragraph 17a (new)
17a. Recalls that education plays a pivotal role in the process of building an inclusive and diverse society built on respect for religious communities and minorities; urges the Government of Turkey to pay special attention to educational materials in schools, which should reflect ethnic and religious plurality and plurality of beliefs in Turkish society, eliminate discrimination and prejudice and promote the full acceptance of all religious communities and minorities, and stresses the need for unbiased learning materials;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17b (new)
Paragraph 17b (new)
17b. Encourages the government to make gender equality a priority of its reform efforts, tackling poverty amongst women and increasing women's social inclusion and participation in the labour market; welcomes the government's efforts to increase the schooling of girls, as a result of which the gender gap in primary education is almost closed, and calls on the government to take all the necessary measures to diminish the gender gap in secondary education too; calls on political parties to further strengthen women's active engagement and participation in politics;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Deeply regrets Turkey's decision to abstain from meetings and contacts with the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU and takes the view that Turkey missed an important opportunity to start a process of engagement and normalisation of relations with Cyprus; recalls that the EU is based on the principles of sincere cooperation and mutual solidarity amongst all its Member States and respect for the institutional framework; recalls that recognition of all EU Member states is a necessary component of the accession process. Accordingly, Turkey is urged to proceed with normalisation of its relations with all EU Member states the soonest the possible, including lifting its veto of EU Member states membership of several international organizations;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22a (new)
Paragraph 22a (new)
22a. Recalls the Turkish stance towards the Cyprus Presidency of the Council, which resulted in cancelling the 70th JPC meeting and deplores that this stance had a negative impact on the interparliamentary political dialogue; regrets the fact no sanctions were imposed on Turkey for this behaviour;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses once again its strong support to the reunification of Cyprus, based on a fair and viable settlement for both communitiecomprehensive settlement in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the values and principles on which the EU is founded; and calls on Turkey to support these efforts in concrete terms; underlines the urgency of an agreement between the two communities on how to proceed with the substantive settlement negotiations, so that the negotiating process, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, can soon regain momentum; calls on Turkey to begin withdrawing its forces immediately from Cyprus and transfer Famagusta to the UNenable the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984); callregrets, in parallel, on the Republic of Cyprus toTurkey's rejection of the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in 2010 for, inter alia, opening 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 allowthe auspices of the European Union which would allow for commercial transactions between the EU and the Turkish -Cypriots, to trade directly in a legal manner that is acceptable to allhrough the port of Famagusta;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages Turkey to intensify its support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and to provide the CMP access to those military areas where evidence suggests the remains of missing persons could be located;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24a (new)
Paragraph 24a (new)
24a. Calls on Turkey to refrain from any new illegal settlement of Turkish citizens on the island, as this would continue to change its demographic balance and reduce the allegiance of its citizens to a future common state; calls on Turkey to address the issue of the illegal settlement of Turkish citizens on the island, in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the principles of International Law;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the importance of a coherent and comprehensive security approach in the Eastern Mediterranean and cCalls on Turkey to allow political dialogue between the EU and NATO by lifting its veto on EU-NATO cooperation including Cyprus, and consequently calls on the Republic of Cyprus to lift its veto on Turkey's participation in the European Defence Agency;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25a (new)
Paragraph 25a (new)
25a. Emphasises that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has been signed by the EU, the 27 Member States and all other candidate countries and that it is part of the acquis communautaire; calls, therefore, on the Government of Turkey to sign and ratify it without further delay; recalls the full legitimacy of the Republic of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, in accordance with UNCLOS;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25b (new)
Paragraph 25b (new)
25b. Regrets that Turkey continued to act against and issued statements objecting to drilling operations carried out by the Republic of Cyprus violating thus the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and threatening retaliation against companies that would participate in Cypriot exploration, following Cyprus's announcement that it would launch a second round of off-shore exploratory licences in exercising its sovereign rights;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Deplores Turkey's refusal to fulfil its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement towards all Member States; recalls that this refusal continues to deeply affect the process of negotiations and calls on the Government of Turkey to implement the protocol in full without further delay. Also notes with regret that despite repeated calls, Turkey has not complied with its obligations outlined in the Declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 Sept. 2005;
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26a (new)
Paragraph 26a (new)
26a. Underlines the importance of comprehensive monitoring of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) implementation, with a view to prioritising targets and projects in Turkey, in line with its accession criteria;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the decision to enhance cooperation between the EU and Turkey on a number of important energy issues and calls on Turkey to commit to this cooperation; believes that, in view of Turkey's strategic role, initial consideration should be given to the value of opening negotiations on Chapter 15 on energy with a view to furthering the EU- Turkey strategic dialogue on energy;