Violation of human rights and the rule of law in the case of two Greek soldiers arrested and detained in Turkey

11.4.2018

Question for oral answer O-000039/2018
to the Commission
Rule 128
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, on behalf of the PPE Group

On 1 March 2018, two Greek soldiers were arrested on the Greek-Turkish border in the Evros area by Turkish military forces for allegedly entering Turkish territory illegally.

However, this case is rapidly turning into a crisis, as the matter has not yet been resolved through administrative channels as has happened repeatedly in the past. The two Greek soldiers have been imprisoned in high-security prisons with no certain indictments, and the outcome remains uncertain as the Turkish authorities have rejected a request from Greece for their release.

Given that, using the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 as a pretext, the Turkish Government is still imposing a state of emergency two years later, thereby legitimising any move to abolish the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, which unquestionably constitute not only the essence of democracy but also the cornerstone of the EU, can the Commission provide a response to the following:

Does it believe that the way in which Turkey has handled the case so far is in line with international and European law as well as with good neighbourly relations, which Turkey, as a candidate country, is bound to respect?

Given that the case concerns an EU Member State and the borders of the EU, does it intend to intervene to secure the immediate return of the Greek soldiers, as good neighbourly relations and mutual respect would require?