Brussels, 04/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EP rapporteur on Turkey, the Dutch member Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED), has voiced concern at the situation in Turkey, where the party in power, the AKP, is facing an application for its ban, which is currently being examined by the Constitutional Court. Addressing the committee on foreign affairs of the EP this week, she explained that “the army is attempting to paralyse the work of the Turkish state, government and parliament”, according to a press release of the EP. The German MEP of Turkish origin Vural Öger (PES) took exception to the attitude of Commissioner Olli Rehn , who was also present at the meeting and who took position against the legal procedure and potential ban of the AKP very quickly earlier this week, stating that there was “no justification” for it (EUROPE 9633). “Why is the Commission making statements on the trial against the party in power (AKP) when no judicial decision has yet been returned?”, asked Mr Öger. Mr Rehn replied that in line with the framework for accession negotiations with Turkey, “it is not only the right but the duty of the Commission” to state whether or not Turkey is fulfilling democratic standards. The Commission also pointed out that under the guidelines of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, “the dissolution of a political party is an extreme measure and justified only when such parties advocate the use of violence or use violence themselves”, which is not the case here. “In the member states of the EU, these decisions are decided in elections, not in court”, he added. (H.B.)