Several MEPs called on Monday 26 April for a tough stance on Turkey, during a debate in the European Parliament on the European Council of 25-26 March (see EUROPE 12686/3) and on the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel to Ankara on 6 April (see EUROPE 12692/1).
“The real scandal is not so much whether one is sitting on a sofa or a real armchair, but the human rights violations in Turkey, the rollback of democracy, the unfriendly actions against European countries, the destabilising role in Libya, Syria and the Caucasus, and the migrant blackmail. I would like Europe to ask itself not so much where it should sit, but how it should stand”, said Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France), referring to ‘Sofagate’.
“It’s always the same thing. Turkey waving the stick but demanding the carrot, and Europe trying to walk a fine line between principles and economic interests”, said Cypriot Giorgios Georgiou (The Left), adding that there were limits to the EU’s concessions and flexibility towards Turkey.
For EPP group chairman Manfred Weber, “we should not open a new chapter [with Turkey], but strengthen confidence”. This reinforcement “is a precondition for any further measures”, he said, adding that the ball was in Ankara’s court.
“Of course, the Council can benefit from the Customs Union [with Turkey, which could be updated, editor’s note], but this is no reason to forget about human rights”, recalled Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller (Germany), urging EU leaders to think about what message they wanted to send to human rights supporters in Turkey.
Similarly, for Belgian Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR group, the EU must adjust its behaviour towards Turkey, “otherwise it will never respect us. Turkey is going to be rewarded with the modernisation of the customs union, with taxpayers’ money, that breaks my heart”, she added, denouncing Turkish attitudes.
In their introductory speeches, Mr Michel and Ms von der Leyen stressed that the strengthening of relations with Turkey was not unconditional.
The former recalled that the “positive, but progressive, proportionate, and reversible” agenda that had been proposed required progress on relations with Turkey, on Cyprus, and on the rule of law. “Extensive cooperation with Turkey is difficult to envisage, should negative measures continue in these areas”, he warned. For the latter, respect for women’s rights, easing of tensions in the Mediterranean, and acceptance of the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are conditions for strengthening economic relations and engaging in a high-level relationship on regional issues, climate change, or public health. “Under these conditions, it will be much easier to release new money to help Turkey take care of more than 4 million Syrian refugees”, she added.
According to Mr Michel, since he took office on 1 December 2019, Turkey has been discussed 11 times in the European Council, which “shows how serious and delicate the relationship is”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)