Constitutional reform package and referendum in Turkey

9.2.2017

Question for written answer E-000955-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Kati Piri (S&D) , Bodil Valero (Verts/ALE) , Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE) , Renate Sommer (PPE) , Manolis Kefalogiannis (PPE) , Fabio Massimo Castaldo (EFDD) , Takis Hadjigeorgiou (GUE/NGL)

On 21 January 2017, the Turkish Parliament adopted an 18-article constitutional reform package, which will be put to a referendum, most probably in early April. This package aims to transform Turkey into an executive presidency. The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided to request the opinion of the Venice Commission on these amendments. Last week, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that the OSCE could send observers to monitor the campaign and the referendum.

— In the run-up to the 2010 constitutional referendum, the Commission was consulted by the Turkish government on whether the proposed changes were compliant with EU standards. Did the Commission receive a similar request for advice this time?

— In November 2016, the Commission presented its annual report on Turkey. The current constitutional reforms have taken place subsequently to this. Has the Commission given its own assessment of the constitutional reform package and, if so, would it be willing to share its views with Parliament?

— Is the Commission planning to monitor the referendum? If so, by what means?