EURACTIV PR

An easy way of publishing your relevant EU press releases.

Turkey's democratic backslide condemned by EU Parliament

Date

14 Apr 2016

Sections

Europe's East
Justice & Home Affairs

The European Parliament today adopted its annual progress report on Turkey's EU accession process. Commenting on the report, Green foreign policy spokesperson and Turkey expert Bodil Valero said:

"The European Parliament has today highlighted its concerns with the backsliding on democratic norms, like the freedom of expression and the media, under the Erdogan regime. After years of neglecting relations with Turkey, it is disturbing that EU governments are now bending over backwards to please President Erdogan, whilst wilfully ignoring his transformation of the Turkish state into an autocracy with increasing disregard for basic rights.

"While our group has always strongly supported the accession path of Turkey, this cannot mean turning a blind eye to rights abuses in the country. The EU Commission and governments should speak out about the trampling of fundamental rights by the Erdogan regime, regardless of what other interests they want to pursue with Turkey's cooperation.

"An overriding goal for the EU must be to ensure peace in Turkey. The EU must pressure the government to immediately restart the peace process with the Kurdish PKK. We regret that a majority of MEPs failed to call for an end to the solitary confinement of Abdullah Öcalan."

 

Richard More O'Ferrall,

Press and media advisor, social media coordinator,

Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament

Mobile: +32-477-443842

Ph. +32-22841669 (Brussels); +33-388174042 (Strasbourg)

www.greens-efa.eu - http://twitter.com/GreensEP - https://www.facebook.com/greensefa

 

 

Jobs

Plastics Europe
ECVM Policy Officer
ARCHE NOAH
Policy Officer
Party of European Socialists
EU Horizontal Policy Trainee
European Environmental Bureau
Events Assistant
EUI - European University Institute
Coordinator of the Academy of European Law
Eurosif - The European Sustainable Investment Forum
(Senior) Policy Adviser
Sealed Air Belgium N.V.
Government Affairs Senior Manager