Council meeting of 25 March 2021 – clarifications on Turkey’s visa liberalisation request
2.4.2021
Question for written answer E-001820/2021/rev.1
to the Council
Rule 138
Gianantonio Da Re (ID)
It would appear that, at the meeting of the 27 European leaders on 25 March 2021, the European Council gave the Commission a mandate to explore new ways of strengthening cooperation with Turkey with regard to mobility. In particular, Turkey’s request for visa liberalisation appears to have been taken into account.
Given Turkey’s continued violation of international law and its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women, as well as its failure to respect human rights and the rule of law and, lastly, the attempt to ban the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) opposition party, can the Council answer the following questions:
- 1.Can it confirm that it has received a request for visa liberalisation from Turkey and that it has given the Commission a mandate to draw up new measures to enhance mobility between the EU and Turkey?
- 2.Given the serious violations mentioned above, should it not suspend once and for all any kind of cooperation with Turkey rather than consider its visa liberalisation request?