Brussels, 07/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - During a debate in plenary at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 7 October, MEPs said that cooperation between the EU and Turkey was not just necessary, but was in the EU's strategic interest.
The current crisis confirms the strategic nature of EU-Turkey relations and the EU's access to the Arab world will be improved if Europe becomes aware of the importance of this relationship, said Romanian MEP Victor Bostinaru on behalf of the S&D. We should cooperate much more with our Turkish partner because this is the only way we will be able the mange the migration crisis, said his compatriot Cristian Dan Preda on behalf of the EPP.
Several MEPs, such as Bostinaru and Preda, the latter conceding however that his group was divided over the issue, called for the opening of further chapters in the EU accession negotiations with Turkey. Minister Nicolas Schmit of Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy, Federica Mogherini, said that opening two new chapters (23 and 24) would be in the interest of Turkey and the EU and act as a catalyst. He said cooperation between the EU and Turkey was indispensable and a great commitment was needed with Turkey because there are so many shared interests and challenges.
This opinion about opening more negotiating chapters was not shared by Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE, Germany), although he too described Turkey as a strategic partner, noting that although we need Turkey's aid and Turkey needs our aid, stating that the accession process can continue is empty rhetoric.
Respecting human rights
A few weeks ahead of general elections in Turkey, scheduled for 1 November, MEPs stressed the importance of respect for human rights and resumption of the peace process with the Kurds. Our problem is that the EU is trying to deceive itself and accept what is happening in Turkey in order to strike a deal with Ankara to get it to finally halt the flow of refugees, stated Bodil Valero (Greens, Sweden), adding that Turkey must be forced to come to the negotiating table with the Kurds. The clashes with the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK are continuing and peace has now evaporated, regretted Charles Tannock (ECR, United Kingdom), pointing out the human rights violations and arrests of journalists. He hoped that there would at least be a solution to the Cypriot problem as a small glimmer of hope because he feared the outcome for the rest would be depressing.
Schmit called for fair and free elections, a ceasefire with the Kurds and progress on the Cypriot question. As an EU candidate country, Turkey must strengthen its democracy, rule of law, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press, he said, adding that Turkey would have to demonstrate its commitment in these domains. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)