WRITTEN QUESTION E-1808/00 by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission. Human rights in Turkey.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession negotiations, international human rights law

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/29

The Community does not support any form of hunting for whales on the high seas, nor will it accept any
trade in such species. As an observer to the IWC, the Community fully supports the various moratoria
recommended within the IWC. However, at this stage and in consideration of its status with regard to the
IWC, the Commission itself is not in a position to take any political measures against the activities cited by
the Honourable Member. The Commission would nevertheless recommend that, if it is felt appropriate, the
eleven Community members of the IWC be contacted with a view to raising this issue and taking it
further.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 103 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1808/00

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Human rights in Turkey

Turkey(cid:146)s record on human rights has long been a cause for concern and the subject of investigation by
parliamentarians, the press and human rights(cid:146) organisations. For example, the freedom of expression of
writers and journalists is restricted, and even a reference to the (cid:145)Kurdish people(cid:146) is sufficient to lead to
imprisonment. Likewise, there is widespread use of torture, and the decision to prosecute an officer lies
with the police and not the judicial authorities. Finally, whilst there has been a moratorium on executions
for the last fifteen years, the courts still impose the death penalty, and the ultimate fate of Abdullah Ocalan
is still unknown.

Now that Turkey, following the decision of the Helsinki Summit in December 1999, has been declared a
formal applicant country for EU accession with which accession negotiations will commence before long,
what timetable for specific and sustainable reforms will the Commission be seeking from the Turkish
authorities so as to ensure that the political criteria laid down at the 1993 Copenhagen Summit can be
met?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

A centrepiece of the new pre-accession strategy for Turkey, launched at the European Council in Helsinki
in December 1999, is the accession partnership (AP) to be prepared by the Commission before adoption
by the Council. The Commission intends to adopt the first AP for Turkey in November 2000. The aim is
mainly to set out priorities to be implemented by Turkey, in all the fields of the Copenhagen criteria
(including the political field) in order to prepare Turkey for Union membership. Priorities will be divided
into short-term priorities (covering the year 2001) and medium-term priorities (covering the period from
2001 onwards).

For her part, Turkey is expected to present before the end of this year a national programme for adoption
of the acquis (NPAA). This will explain how Turkey intends to implement the priorities of the AP,
including in terms of human and financial resources.

The political reforms, to which the Honourable Member refers, will have to be tackled in these two
documents, the AP and the NPAA.

The implementation of the AP and NPAA will be regularly monitored, through appropriate mechanisms
such as the association committee as well as in the annual regular reports.