During the EP plenary session (16- 19 April 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the case of two Greek soldiers arrested and detained in Turkey. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Manolis KEFALOGIANNIS (EPP, EL), Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), Cecilia WIKSTRÖM (ALDE, SE) and Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL, EL).

EU - Greece (T)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

WIKSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE)

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

PAPADIMOULIS, Dimitrios (The Left, EL)

KEFALOGIANNIS, Manolis (EPP, EL)

ANDROULAKIS, Nikos (S&D, EL)

Case of two Greek soldiers arrested and detained in Turkey: extracts form the debate

Atmosphere shots of the EP building in Strasbourg

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, The two soldiers are in pre-trial detention since the beginning of March. We trust that their case will swiftly be brought to trial in line with international detention standards. Yet, the situation creates unbearable uncertainty for the person involved and their families. On the political level, also, it increases strains between Turkey and the European Union.We do have serious disagreements with the Turkish government, particularly when it comes to the negative trend of the human rights situation in the country. Turkey has been moving away from the European Union, in particular in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights. And of course by waking effective checks and balances in their political system.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Good neighbourly relations will be extremely important. It&rsquo;s our mutual interest to refrain from action that only will make our dialogue more difficult. This is where the European Union has urged Turkey to avoid any source of friction with our Member States. All the more so, between two countries that are also neighbours and NATO allies.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Manolis KEFALOGIANNIS (EPP, EL), The President of Turkey is simply ignoring Europe. But there are no pre-accession talks a la carte without the rule of law, democracy, with a state of emergency in place, with these types of arrests and proceedings. 48 days later the EU is showing its unconditional solidarity to Greece and to these two Greek soldiers. It is high time that the Turkish President frees these two Greek officers.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&amp;D, EL), Let&rsquo;s not deceive ourselves, this is not a bilateral matter but rather an issue concerning relations between Europe and Turkey. We all know very well exactly what President Erdogan wants. What is the EU going to do to defend our rights? What is the EU going to do to put an end to this illegal, unfair detention of the two Greek soldiers?

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Cecilia WIKSTR&#214;M (ALDE, SE), We&rsquo;ve had other similar cases of innervated border-crossings, a bit like these two soldiers who were out in bad weather quite simply. In the past we were able to resolve this quite simply, but Turkey has made a choice namely to incarcerate these two servicemen without actually informing them of the charges against them and I think that demonstrates yet again that Turkey is moving towards an authoritarian form of rule. It&rsquo;s antidemocratic and therefore we must immediately remove them from the list of candidate countries to join the European Union. We need to do this immediately. We are talking about a very serious and very worrying development

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (GUE/NGL, EL), We would like to have peace, we would like to have good neighbourly relations however that has to go through in respect of the international law and the rule of law. We will not stop this struggle unless the two Greek soldiers come back to our country as free men, within the Greek Army and back to their families. I am waiting for the Commission and the Council to work hand in hand with the European Parliament to put all pressure so this happens.