WRITTEN QUESTION E-1564/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(24 May 2000)

Subject: Political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities

In answer to written question E-0028/00(1) the Council states that it raises human rights issues at all political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and political directors.

1. Since when has the Council been raising human rights issues at all political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and political directors? (Please supply dates and places of meetings and a list of persons present)

2. What human rights issues have been raised at the political dialogue meetings (Please supply dates and places of meetings, lists of persons present and the response of the Turkish authorities)

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 162.

Reply

(30 November 2000)

1. At the meeting of the EC-Turkey Association Council on 6 March 1995, the EU and Turkey decided to intensify the political dialogue at different levels. In that meeting, the EU also raised human rights and fundamental freedoms, noting among other things that progress in the field of human rights was insufficient since human rights violations still took place, newspapers were closed, journalists and authors persecuted specifically mentioning Mr Kemal and Mr Birdal as well as detained Turkish parliamentarians.

2. At the following EC-Turkey Association Council meetings on 30 October 1995 and 29 April 1997, the EU again, among other things, reminded Turkey of the close interest the EU takes in human rights and looked forward to a situation in which respect for human rights in Turkey will meet the standards required of a potential member of the EU, especially noting the importance of conducting the fight against terrorism with due respect for human rights and the rule of law. A further strengthening of the EU-Turkey relationship was dependent on these factors.

3. The political dialogue with Turkey was interrupted following the Luxembourg European Council in December 1997 and Turkey was during a period not willing to discuss political issues, such as human rights, with the European Union.

4. In its conclusions of December 1999, the Helsinki European Council welcomed recent positive developments in Turkey as noted in the Commission's progress report, as well as its intention to continue its reforms towards complying with the Copenhagen criteria. Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States. Building on the existing European strategy, Turkey, like other candidate States, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms. This will include enhanced political dialogue, with emphasis on progressing towards fulfilling the political criteria for accession with particular reference to the issue of human rights, as well as on the issues referred to in paragraphs 4 and 9(a). The Council draws the attention of the Honourable Member to point 4 where The European Council reaffirms the inclusive nature of the accession process, which now comprises 13 candidate States within a single framework. The candidate States are participating in the accession process on an equal footing. They must share the values and objectives of the European Union as set out in the Treaties. In this respect the European Council stresses the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter and urges candidate States to make every effort to resolve any outstanding border disputes and other related issues. Failing this they should within a reasonable time bring the dispute to the International Court of Justice. The European Council will review the situation relating to any outstanding disputes, in particular concerning the repercussions on the accession process and in order to promote their settlement through the International Court of Justice, at the latest by the end of 2004. Moreover, the European Council recalls that compliance with the political criteria laid down at the Copenhagen European Council is a prerequisite for the opening of accession negotiations and that compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria is the basis for accession to the Union.

In point 9(a) the European Council welcomes the launch of the talks aiming at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on 3 December in New York and expresses its strong support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts to bring the process to a successful conclusion. An Association Council meeting was held on 11 April 2000 in Luxembourg, at which human rights were discussed against the background of the Copenhagen political criteria, which all candidate States must comply with before accession negotiations may be initiated. The EU noted that Turkey had embarked on a process of reform in this area. The EU looked forward to further progress and would continue to closely monitor developments in Turkey and, if necessary, raise individual cases with Turkish authorities. The EU also mentioned specifically the EU position on capital punishment, encouraging Turkey to become party to Protocol No 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

5. These questions were raised at a working lunch between the political directors of the fifteen Member States and their Turkish counterpart on 30 March 2000. Since the re-arrest of Mr Birdal constituted a serious setback for freedom of expression in Turkey and was not in keeping with the spirit of the Helsinki conclusions, the need for Turkey to implement the necessary reforms to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria was reiterated during the lunch. It should be noted that Mr Akim Birdal has since been released.

6. At meetings of the EC-Turkey Association Council, the EU delegation is led by the President of the Council and the Turkish delegation by the Turkish Foreign Minister. The Member of the European Commission responsible for enlargement is also present.