EU Parliament Freezes Turkey Accession Talks With 367-74 Vote, Condemns Threats Against Greece and Pushbacks in Greece
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The European Parliament has voted to maintain its freeze on Turkey's accession talks to the European Union, citing ongoing democratic backsliding under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration. The decision was supported by 367 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), with 74 against, 188 abstentions, and a total of 629 MEPs voting. The report highlights concerns over the erosion of democratic standards, including the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other municipal officials, and suppression of peaceful protests.
The Parliament's report also condemns Turkey's continued threat of war (casus belli) against Greece should Greece exercise its right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea, as provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The amendment condemning this threat was proposed by MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis and adopted as part of the progress report on Turkey's EU accession process.
The report supports Turkey's prospects in resolving the Kurdish issue, describing the involvement of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and jailed PKK head Abdullah Öcalan in the peace process as a historic opportunity. It notes meetings between the DEM Party and Öcalan, and welcomes Öcalan's call for the PKK to disarm and dissolve.
Additionally, the European Parliament calls on Turkey to demonstrate a serious commitment to resolving the Cyprus issue and to support normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including progress on agreements with Armenia and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border for humanitarian aid. The report urges Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and respect Armenian cultural heritage.
The Parliament also comments on visa liberalization, noting Turkey has yet to fulfill key criteria, but supports advancing the process should conditions be met. It acknowledges Turkey's strategic importance in areas such as security, trade, and migration, and encourages continued cooperation, while distinguishing between the Turkish government and civil society.
In response, Turkey's Foreign Ministry has rejected the European Parliament's report, describing its findings as distorted, biased, and unrealistic, and criticized the Parliament for providing a platform for anti-Turkish sentiment. The Ministry called for EU-Turkey relations to be maintained on the basis of mutual benefit.
Separately, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on Greece to end the practice of summary migrant deportations, known as pushbacks, and to strengthen accountability mechanisms for human rights violations at the borders. The Commissioner referenced the Adriana shipwreck and called for responsibility in line with European Court of Human Rights standards. Greece has consistently denied the pushback allegations, stating that its border control measures comply with international law. Migration Minister Makis Voridis announced plans to extend the maximum detention period for rejected asylum seekers from 18 to 24 months. The coast guard, with Frontex, recently rescued 158 migrants south of Crete.
The European Parliament condemns the democratic regression and blocks negotiations with Ankara, but invites us to keep alive the hope of future membership, distinguishing between government and civil society
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