During the EP plenary session (21-24/11) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on EU-Turkey relations. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), and Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE).

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

KAMALL, Syed (ECR, UK)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

HARMS, Rebecca (Greens/EFA, DE)

EU-Turkey relations: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The arrest of the co-chairs of the HDP (The Peoples' Democratic Party), as well as the detention of several of its deputies, adds to a long list of extremely worrying developments. These includes considerations of the death penalty, continued restrictions on the freedom of expression, the closure of media outlets and the arrests of journalists, academics, the suspension on thousands of civil servants with a very worrying situation for the judicial system.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Our relations with Turkey have reached a crucial point. I believe the best way to strengthen Turkish democracy, the most effective way, is by engaging with Turkey, by keeping channels open.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, What is crucial, in the short term, is a swift, fair and independent, domestic redress mechanism to be in place. Failing this, we are going to see a flood of cases in front of the European Court of Human Rights. And I know, talks are ongoing with the Council of Europe, which Turkey is a member, to address this issue. I hope this work will bring results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, If the accession process came to an end, I believe we would, both, find ourselves in a loose loose scenario. Europe would loose an important channel for dialogue and leverage with Turkey. Turkey would loose a lot . And we would all loose an opportunity to for greater friendship and cooperation among our people.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group leader, We cannot simply have business as usual. And for that reason my group supports the demand to freeze accession negotiations at the moment, not to break off negotiations, but to send the message that Turkey in its current situation cannot continue negotiations. And quite clearly, if there is a decision to re-introduce the death penalty, such a country cannot become a member of the EU, we need to make that quite clear.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), S&amp;D Group leader, Even a group like the socialists and demaocrats group which has always been and is still very much in favour of Turkish accession, we are in favour of freezing accession talks. Not interrupting them. We want these talks to be freezed to send a strong political signal to ERDOGAN, do not continue striking out along this path, do not strike out along the path of political repression, stamping on people's rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), ECR Group leader, Enough is enough. Now I fully understand why some politicians here, and in our national capitals, are reluctant to criticize Erdogan. I appreciate that there are much wider geopolitical factors at play. Sustaining the EU-Turkey migration deal after their generosity in hosting 3 millions refugees, security corporation for they too have suffered terrorist attacks. And not wanting to push Erdogan into Putin's arms or into a corner. But we need to be honest with each other, and in wanting to be honest with Turkey, we need to be honest with ourselves. For far too long, we have dishonestly dangled the prospect of EU membership in front of Turkey.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), ALDE Group leader, Instead of continuing the illusion of accession talks, with the regime that becomes more and more authoritarian, I think we are loosing credibility to do so, and you have heard it, in my opinion, in this house, a unanimity, rather unanimity, there is never a unanimity in a house as the European Parliament. But, nearly I think, a broad, broad majority to say you have to freeze the accession talks for the moment. And you have to put a number of conditions to restart them, these accession talks once Turkey is compliant with it.

SOUNDBITE (German), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), Greens/EFA Group-leader, I think that developments over recent weeks have made it clear to us that we cannot continue as we have done in the past. Before the change of the situation in Turkey which no longer has anything to do with rule of law, and thus the majority view in this house is that freezing accession negotiations with Turkey is the appropriate reaction.