EU-Turkey relations after the attempted coup on 15 July 2016
19.7.2016
Question for written answer P-005960-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Matteo Salvini (ENF)
It is increasingly clear that the Turkish Government is using the failed coup of 15 July 2016 as a pretext for widespread retaliation against anyone deemed to be hostile to that government, with a view to subsequently revising the Constitution in order to radically amend the fundamental principles of the republic founded by Atatürk.
There is a great risk that thousands of opponents will suffer harsh sentences (even death sentences) following summary trials, in breach of the most elementary principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.
In Turkey, we are witnessing a worrying regression, in an authoritarian and Islamist direction, and furthermore, both Erdoğan and his opponents agree that they do not intend to recognise the Armenian genocide and the fundamental rights of Kurds and other ethnic and religious minorities.
Can the Commission therefore explain whether and how the EU intends to review its relations with Turkey, to:
- —open a humanitarian corridor with a view to offering political asylum to Turkish nationals who are currently subject to reprisals by the government;
- —immediately suspend existing bilateral agreements and those currently under negotiation, and even consider cancelling them;
- —consider whether it is advisable to continue holding accession negotiations with a country that is moving away from the fundamental principles of the Union?