15/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - MEPs have expressed concern about the consequences of the ban on the pro-Kurd party, DTP, accused of having links with PKK. Although EPP President Joseph Daul has said “Turkish justice has spoken and its decision should be respected”, his counterpart of the S&D Group goes further. The ruling of the constitutional court on 11 December was a “grave mistake”, said Martin Schulz, who said it is a setback for internal peace in Turkey. This dissolution is “sabotage of the Erdogan government's policy” aimed at finding a viable compromise between the Turkish populations, said Daniel Cohn-Bendit, who sees this as a “hard blow” to the process of integration. This is a “victory for nationalists”, very sceptical about Europe, and hence a “defeat” for pro-Europeans, he analysed. Also “concerned” was Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group, who said this issue will be on the agenda of the conference of presidents of political groups on Thursday 17 December. (A.B./transl.jl)