WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2919/96 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Report on the development of Turkey-EU relations following the implementation of the customs union
Date: 1996-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Cyprus, European Commission, Greece, Türkiye, common foreign and security policy, customs union, human rights, international relations, report













EUR-Lex - 91996E2919 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2919

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2919/96 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Report on the development of Turkey-EU relations following the implementation of the customs union  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0090 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2919/96 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (25 October 1996)Subject: Report on the development of Turkey-EU relations following the implementation of the customs unionOn close reading, the report raises many questions:1. Why does the report fail to mention that the Council's call to avoid the use of force is directed at Turkey, which is threatening Greece with war if it makes use of its right to extend its territorial waters in accordance with the law of the sea?2. Why does it ignore the fact that the violence in Cyprus was provoked by the Turkish-Cypriot side, which even murdered two unarmed Cypriots? Is that not contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Commission's declarations following the murders?3. Why does it mention only the number of political prisoners that have been released and not mention those who remain in prison or those who have been arrested in the meantime?4. Why does it report the statements by the justice minister of the previous government regarding the prosecution of torturers? Did the Commission follow developments in those prosecutions? If not, what point is there in merely reporting statements?5. Why does it ignore the human rights situation in northern Cyprus, which is particularly poor, at a time when real power in northern Cyprus is being exercised by Turkey's army of occupation?6. Why does it make no mention of the 400 actions against Turkey pending before the European Human Rights Commission, or the first judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, which condemn Turkey?7. Why does it wholly disregard the resolutions of the European Parliament?Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1996)The Honourable Member refers to the annual report on the implementation of the customs union with Turkey and economic and political aspects thereof, including the country's democratic process and human rights situation, which the Commission undertook to provide during the Parliament debate of autumn last year.With regard to the Honourable Member's first question concerning the Council's statements, the Commission referred, without further comment, to these statements, with which, moreover, Parliament is fully acquainted. As regards Cyprus, a country that is not the subject of its report, the Commission relied on statements by the Presidency in the context of the common foreign and security policy.With regard to the other issues raised, the Commission endeavoured to take account of all the information in its possession and to present that information as objectively as possible.The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it took account of Parliament's resolutions, and in particular that of 19 September this year, when drafting its report.