On Thursday 24 October, MEPs adopted by a large majority (on a show of hands) a joint resolution put forward by the Greens/EFA, Renew Europe, EPP, S&D, and GUE/NGL, in which they call on the Council of the EU to introduce a series of targeted sanctions and economic measures against Turkey aimed at particular senior Turkish officials and dignitaries, and call for a full pan-European embargo against the sale of arms to Turkey.
MEPs insist, however, that economic sanctions should not affect Turkish citizens, or even Syrian refugees on Turkish territory. MEPs also want to reduce funding under the Instrument for Pre-Accession II (IPA II) for possible Turkish accession, as they believe the actions of Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdoğan to be totally contrary to European values.
MEPs had expressed their deep indignation the previous day, during a debate with Christos Stylianides, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, who was representing Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. They expressed their indignation with Turkey, which, in their opinion, is acting outside all UN frameworks. But they also expressed their indignation with the EU and its Member States, which, in the eyes of many MEPs, including Kati Piri (S&D, Netherlands) and Thierry Mariani (ID, France), have abandoned, or even betrayed, the Kurdish democratic forces, which have been fighting against Islamic State.
While denouncing the withdrawal of US troops, several MEPs, including Özlem Demirel (GUE/NGL, Germany) and Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany), lamented the European Union's role as an observer on the international scene. Some MEPs, including Emmanuel Maurel (GUE/NGL), have been frank in talking about European subservience with regard to the United States while remaining members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "If we do nothing, history may take place without us, maybe even against us", warned Nathalie Loiseau, chair of the parliamentary committee on security and defence (SEDE).
MEPs, including Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, Netherlands), were particularly concerned about Turkey's intention to "deport" Syrian refugees to the so-called "security” zone along the border in north-eastern Syria, and about the number of Islamic State soldiers who have escaped from Syrian prisons following Turkish bombardments. Several MEPs called on Member States to repatriate their nationals who fought under the banner of the Islamic State, so that they can be monitored and tried in a secure place.
This resolution follows the Turkish intervention, which was launched on 9 October outside any international legal framework, in the areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in north-eastern Syria, which, according to UN data, has caused nearly 200 deaths and the displacement of around 300,000 people. MEPs have real concerns, particularly following the agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Turkish President to take joint control of most of the Turkish-Syrian border.
The previous week, at the European Council, the Heads of State and Government endorsed the conclusions adopted by the Foreign Ministers, condemned Turkish military action and decided to end arms export licences to Turkey (see EUROPE 12351/3). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)