Debate on the decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to lift the parliamentary immunity of 138 members, during the EP plenary session (06-09 June) in Strasbourg. Statement by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), Notis MARIAS (ECR, EL), Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ALDE, DE), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE) and Bodil VALERO (Greens/EFA, SE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

VALERO, Bodil (Greens/EFA, SE)

MARIAS, Notis (ECR, EL)

PREDA, Cristian Dan (EPP, RO)

PIRI, Kati (S&D, NL)

ZIMMER, Gabriele (GUE/NGL, DE)

HAHN, Johannes (AT, EC)

LAMBSDORFF, Alexander Graf (ALDE, DE)

Decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to lift the parliamentary immunity of 138 members: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, In terms of financial support, I am talking about the facilities for refugees, we have made necessary the agreed support, so far more than 250 millions have been committed, more than 100 million already paid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, This is not a blank check, there are a number of serious developments affecting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Turkey, as well as the situation in southeast Turkey.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, The Commission is seriously concerned about the recent Turkish parliament decision to permit the lifting of parliamentary immunity from prosecution for a large number of members of the parliament.

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Waiving immunity for 138 members is something out of the ordinary. It is even more exceptional because mostly these are members of a single Kurdish party, in opposition in Ankara. There are also doubts not just about the collective nature of this decision but also the impact that this decision will have on the parliamentary representation of Kurdish citizens.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), Her in the parliament we are concerned about the decision of the Turkish parliament to lift the immunity of one quarter of its members., a move clearly targeted against opposition party the HDP. At such a critical moment, taking away the political reperesentation of many people living in the southeast of Turkey is a wrong move. Not because we believe politicians should be immune to prosecution,not because we don't understand that Turkey faces a serious threat form terrorism, but because it is against all democratic principles to silence opponents simply for their political views, no matter how much you dislike or disagree with them.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Notis MARIAS (ECR, EL), The Turkish regime is still trampling certain rights because it has decided to waive the parliamentary immunity of 138 democratically elected representatives, which extracts the views of 25 million living in the Kurdish part of Turkey.

SOUNDBITE (German), Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ALDE, DE), Let's think about the Copenhagen criteria. Turkey is a country which is aiming for full EU membership. The first Copenhagen criteria according to EURLEX is institutional stability for democratic and rule of law, the preservation of human rights and respect and protection of minorities. And if a parliament makes itself pretty much incapable of working because of a lack of democratic representation by lifting the immunity of 138 different members, then institutional stability is certainly not to be spoken of.

SOUNDBITE (German), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), On the 10th of June last year Mr ERDOGAN said that immunity is going to be lifted collectively for 138 members, now this is not just a formal act undertaken by the President, it is a lucid effort to push the system towards a Presidential autocratic system.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Bodil VALERO (Greens/EFA, SE), On the 7th of May of this year the Turkish parliament passed a law which made it possible to punish members, primarily this is amed at HDP and has to do with crimes against the Turkish terrorism law. That is to say the same law that poses a big problem when it comes to talk of VISA liberalisation for Turkey.