EU-Turkey meeting in Ankara

Question for written answer  E-001862/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marco Zanni (ID), Marco Campomenosi (ID), Anna Bonfrisco (ID), Susanna Ceccardi (ID)

The state of the rule of law in Turkey is steadily worsening. Just in the last few days the government has, for the umpteenth time, taken strong action, with the Turkish authorities arresting 10 former Navy admirals on charges of ‘conspiring against the constitutional order’. These were not random arrests; they are linked to a public statement signed by 104 retired admirals drawing attention to the risks involved in any withdrawal by Turkey from the Montreux Convention, and appealing for Turkey to remain a democratic secular state based on the rule of law.

Authoritarian and anti-democratic methods have been used to repress political opposition forces and civil organisations, and human rights have been violated. On 6 April 2021, the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council, Ursula Von der Leyen and Charles Michel, went to Ankara for a summit with President Erdogan on developments in EU-Turkey relations.

In light of the above, can the Commission clarify:

• 1.Was this particular episode discussed during the meeting on 6 April, alongside human rights and rule of law issues?
• 2.On the basis of what facts and conditions does the Commission believe it should make overtures to a country that has, through its actions, shown itself to be anti-European and far from embracing EU values?