Ongoing criminal acts by Turkey

Question for written answer  E-001831/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Manolis Kefalogiannis (PPE)

In a National Security Council communication on the ‘Turkish minority’ in Thrace, Turkey is directly violating the international Treaty of Lausanne, which expressly states that the minority in Thrace is religious and refers to it as ‘Muslim’.

Greece is in favour of the peaceful resolution of differences through diplomatic dialogue based on international law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea. Recently, we have witnessed unilateral, provocative and aggressive conduct by Turkey in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, in the form of seismic research by the ship Oruç Reis on the Greek continental shelf. 13 months ago all the presidents of the European institutions visited the region of Evros accompanied by the Greek Prime Minister, where they were able to see how Turkey is using immigration flows for its own ends. This was condemned outright by the EU, and the imposition of sanctions for this illegal conduct by Turkey remains on the table.

In the light of this:

• 1.What is the Commission’s view concerning the reference to the ‘Turkish minority’ in Thrace, particularly in view of the fact that this reference by a country that aspires to become a member of the EU runs completely counter to international law and the international Treaty of Lausanne?
• 2.What is its overall view on the communication by Turkey’s National Security Council, which is full of inaccuracies?