WRITTEN QUESTION E-3203/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(11 November 2002)

Subject: Personal freedoms in Turkey and Albania

According to Community officials, the EU wishes to send a message of encouragement to Turkey, while continuing to strengthen relations with Albania. However, the Albanian press reports that private correspondence between Albanian citizens is constantly interfered with, and the respected French newspaper, Le Figaro, reported on 22 October 2002 that Mr A. Firat, a candidate standing in the Turkish elections on 3 November, had been arrested by the Turkish police on 21 October 2002 and charged with using the Kurdish language at an election rally.

Is the Council aware of these flagrant violations of personal freedoms in Turkey and Albania? Why do such violations continue despite years of protest by MEPs, respected international publications, NGOs and other bodies? Has the Council perhaps failed to make clear that any country's economic or other relations with the EU are dependent on absolute respect for fundamental personal freedoms, which are an integral part of European culture? Why are the reforms recently announced by Turkey concerning the use of Kurdish in education and broadcasting not being implemented? Do the reforms announced by the Turkish government include the repeal of the antiquated electoral law applying in Turkey, which prohibits candidates from using any language other than Turkish?

Reply

(3 March 2003)

The Honourable Member rightly points out the existing shortcomings in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Turkey, in particular with respect to rights and freedoms for Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin. Such shortcomings, both as regards legislation and implementation, are regularly taken up by the EU in the political dialogue meetings with Turkey at various levels, most recently on the occasion of the EU political directors troika to Ankara of 31 October.

It is however undeniable that an important process of political reform is currently underway in Turkey, by which, as acknowledged by the European Council, Turkey has moved closer to meeting the political criteria for accession to the EU. The reform package of 3 August 2002, which the EU had welcomed in a declaration, contains i.a. provisions on education and broadcasting in Kurdish. Regulations to implement the new provisions on education have recently been passed and implementation of the provisions on broadcasting is currently in preparation. In this respect, Turkey will be encouraged to promote and fully implement all necessary measures for the protection of the rights of religious, linguistic or ethnic minorities, in order to adapt herself to the European standards of human rights protection.

The most recent legislative package of December tends to confirm this orientation, i.a. by relaxing the restrictiveness of the provisions governing freedom of association, including as regards the use of languages other than Turkish. The EU has begun the examination of these measures presented in early December 2002 with a view to assessing the improvement in the enjoyment of rights and freedoms for all citizens irrespective of their origin and is looking forward to proper implementation of new legislation.

The European Council in Copenhagen concluded that if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.

Regarding the Albanian situation, the Council stresses that it never comments on press statements or reports and informs the Honourable Parliamentarian that it is not aware of any specific case where there has been interference with private correspondence. However, the question of respect for

democratic principles and human rights is an integral part of the Stabilisation and Association Process and it is regularly raised in the dialogue between the EU and Albania. It will also prominently figure in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement which the Commission will negotiate with Albania based on the mandate authorised by the Council on 21 October 2002.