Harsh Euro-criticism for Turkey

Once again, the European Parliament is sharply critical of Turkey, perhaps harsher than ever. Apart from the well-known issues of Greek interest (Aegean, Cyprus, EEZ), the general feeling after the relevant debate on Monday night, in the Strasbourg Plenary, was that Turkey has lost sympathies abroad. The report on the resolution, which is based on the Commission’s annual “progress report”, was signed by Spanish Socialist Nacho Sanchez Amor. He reminded, speaking in Plenary, that Turkey is not a country in transition that has not yet acquired the necessary “maturity” in the exercise of democracy. Here, he emphasizes, “we have a deliberate regression from a better situation, because older generations in Turkey had lived in a better democracy.”

At the same time, the Spanish MEP, although praising “some modest progress in the past”, makes an explicit reference to the “aggressive statements against Greece” and warns that “it is not possible to turn a blind eye due to Turkey’s geopolitical role”. The European Parliament has traditionally been considered one of Turkey’s harshest critics. In lesser tones, Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varelli warns that “Turkey is moving away from the EU”, expresses its “concern” over the questioning of Greece’s sovereign rights and calls on “Ankara” to commit to good relations. However, it also puts forward a positive agenda, with extensive references to EU funding to Ankara, noting that Turkey remains the EU’s key partner.

“Great distrust for Turkey”

In a decoding of the statements, ND MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis, former chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, told Deutsche Welle that “the European Parliament resolution is in the right direction, puts things in perspective and describes a Turkey in a phase. review in relation to its neighbors “. “There is a lot of mistrust for Turkey, the country is at the lowest level of relations with the European Parliament for many years, at least since 2014. I (Greens MEP) Sergei Lagodinsky, for example, who has taken over the presidency of the EU-Turkey Commission, saying that even those who support Turkey’s accession process are now beginning to think twice. ”

The Greek MEP considers that all this reflects the general climate prevailing in Brussels and recalls that, in a recent question, the Commission stated that “it is aware of the increase in violations of Greek airspace by Turkish fighter jets”, a wording in more detail. in relation to the recent past. The dire climate for Turkey, he points out, is exacerbated by Ankara’s obstacles to Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO, something “that has made an alginate impression and this has been seen in the debate here in the European Parliament.” “It was at this point that Turkey could not blackmail the two countries with its internal affairs.”

Not in “counterproductive” statements

The European Parliament resolution characterizes as “counterproductive” and “contrary to the de-escalation efforts” the latest statements of the Turkish authorities that challenge the sovereign rights of Greece. In addition, it condemns the violations of Greek airspace, overflights and harassment of research vessels within the Cypriot EEZ. Speaking in Strasbourg, SYRIZA MEP and MEP Dimitris Papadimoulis spoke of a “clear and strong message”, but said he “needed a tougher stance on the Turkish leadership” and called on European governments to “adopt the European Parliament’s request”. arms sales to Erdogan’s leadership “. For his part, PASOK-KINAL President and MEP Nikos Androulakis, in an interesting comparison with the developments in Ukraine, stressed that “the Union should not repeat with Erdogan the mistakes it made with Putin. Any reviewer who disputes international law must be treated the same. ”

Since 2016, when the European Parliament first called for the freezing of accession talks with Ankara, Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to “open the border” by sending millions of refugees to Europe, in violation of the “EU-Turkey Joint Declaration” on the refugee, which had already been agreed. Now the threats are turning to Greece, foretelling a warm summer. But wouldn’t that be absurd for Turkey itself, which is experiencing an unbearable economic crisis and needs a smooth and lucrative tourist season? “If the leaders thought based on logic, we would never have a war,” comments MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis. “But here there is a personal agenda, there are elections in Turkey, there are difficulties for Erdogan to get through his issues. That is why this situation has become dangerous …”

Giannis Papadimitriou, Strasbourg

Source: Deutsche Welle