Mick Wallace debates EU-Turkey relations and European Parliament report

Mick Wallace (The Left). – Mr President, Turkey is a NATO member and is a partner of many EU Member States. So why does the EU actually tolerate what Turkey gets up to? Turkey has been breaking international law on a regular basis for a long time and we put up with it.

Now we complain, and rightly so, about their illegality with Cyprus and Greece. But you know what? I actually think Turkey must be confused because we never said bugger all to them about their illegal occupation of Iraq or their stealing oil, their illegal occupation of Syria, along with the Americans and the Israelis, where oil and food has been stolen.

The inconsistencies of this place makes a mockery of our notion of the rule of law, of fundamental values and European values. Come on, why don't you apply the same rule every day? Are you okay with Turkey continuing to illegally occupy Syria? And now they're threatening to move further into it and take more of it, and you’re saying nothing to them. Is it because you basically prefer Erdogan to Assad? Bring in some consistency and you shall have some credibility. Until then, you shall have no credibility.

#eudebates the unique initiative aiming to promote debate, dialogue, knowledge, participation and communication among citizens. #Turkey #borders #Greece #Cyprus #Russia #LAW #Ukraine #Energy #inflation #Mediterranean #Erdoğan

Turkey: persistently further from EU values and standards

Without clear and significant progress on EU-related reforms, Parliament cannot envisage resuming accession negotiations with Turkey, warned MEPs on Tuesday.

In a report adopted on Tuesday by 448 votes in favour, 67 against and 107 abstentions, MEPs warn that in spite of Turkey’s repeated statements that it aims to become an EU member, over the past two years the country has consistently gone back on its commitments in relation to the accession process.

Parliament welcomes the recent slight improvement in overall EU-Turkey relations, in particular, the high-level dialogues. This enhanced cooperation has unfortunately coexisted alongside regular conflicts, as relations with neighbouring EU member states remain challenging, stress MEPs.

The report points to the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey. MEPs regret the sustained legal and administrative pressure on civil society and human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists. They call on the Commission to provide sufficient funding for pro-democracy efforts in Turkey.

Importance of close EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy

Welcoming Turkey’s willingness to act as a mediator in the Russian war against Ukraine, MEPs stress the vital importance of good EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy in the current challenging times and thank the country for its firm alignment with NATO and the EU.

The report commends Turkey’s efforts in continuing to host the largest refugee population in the world, and notes the sustained provision of EU funding for this purpose, which MEPs commit to maintain in the future. They also support the Commission’s proposal to start negotiations to update a mutually beneficial Customs Union, but warn that Parliament would only support a final agreement if necessary democratic conditions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect of international law and good neighbourly relations are met.

To sum-up, Parliament cannot at this stage justify modifying its position concerning the formal suspension of the accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018, MEPs say. By openly defying the binding rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the case of Osman Kavala and others, the current Turkish Government has deliberately demolished any aspirations of reopening the EU accession process at this time, they add.

Turkish objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO applications

MEPs call on the Turkish government to handle Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership applications in good faith, to engage constructively in efforts to solve possible outstanding issues and to refrain from exerting any undue pressure in this process. In the current serious circumstances, it is important that all NATO allies act with foresight and swiftly ratify the accession protocols of the two countries, they stress.

[worldcitizen]

You have no idea why Turkey is in Syria and Iraq. I don't even see any point to explain.Imagine to provide 7 million refugees only 4.5miliion registered. You tell me what is the population of Ireland?
Then understand the scale of trouble Turkey has. You would have to deal with minimum 100 million refugees if Turkey wasn't guarding the EU's gates.

[atamucahitaktas]

I would like to see this attitude towards Turkey, when next time a couple of milions of Syrians try to get in Eu from Turkey.

[peroleable]

EU parliament.
Is the Irish the only serious represantative there?

[anadacup]

No one said anything about France forcing their ex-colonies, African countries to put 85 percents of their national reserves in Bank of France, which is controlled by French government. They never truly achieved total freedom. This is just one of many things they did. Gaddafi trying to change that. Look at what what happened to Libya. A soul of European man is more valuable than African ones. Be fair. That's all we want

[billyjesus]

to think when the british were starving his ancestors it was the Turks who were sending them food and aid. maybe he's alive today because the Turks saved his ancestors from starvation.

[yonasbrhane]

Mick Wallace man of principle, good job 👏👏👏👏✊✊✊✊🙏🙏🙏🙏

[savvasbambos]

BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE BRAVE
A real BRAVE Human HERO
We love you Mick
We support you always. Please keep speaking out the truth even if it's too hard.
We salute you SIR 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙏
Free humans on this earth must protect you in any cost.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[WhoAmI-dbzz]

If you do not support Terrorists, Turkiye is not keen to organise military operations abroad. Europeans cannot get front of their silly prejudices and imaginary enemy concept.

[yallowrosa]

Great and Brave Man
thank Mick for existing

[samuelreddy]

Mick's debate is only as good as his looks

[andualecsandru]

The only mature in the room, all rests are clowns and puppies.

[Vpa-ueyx]

Puedo ver cuantos son lo interesados que están presentes para aprender. 🤦‍♀️ jamás saldremos del sistema de opresión económica social. 😔

[jakartalarmand]

youve hurt me this time. turkey has rights over the cyprus according to International Law because of the guarentee and also Article 51 for Syria and Iraqi oil buying from Northern Iraq also Turkey gonna pay the Iraqi government 2.2 billion dollars about that.

[annavandergeest]

Where are those Dolls that we are pay a lot of money forAn empty Hall!!!!

[halilt]

An irresponsible talk. EU is monitoring the border countries visa policy and pressuring them (Serbia, Bosnia, Moldova) to align their visa policy with EU. While EU that much sensitive with the "protection of borders", Turkey was bordering with ISIS in Northern Syria. I invite Mr. Wallace to understand the difficult situation of Turkey in terms of migration, terror threat and social issues and comment accordingly. Also it is important to note that Turkey's security and EU's security are not discrete.

[Maryhadalam]

Turkey has many refugees still living there. They want them to repatriate.They have one million in İstanbul alone. Many Turkish people are living in Istanbul in an earthquake zone and are due a big earthquake. Many buildings are not safe. They need to knock down and rebuild many homes. They have tried to clear way in Syria near the borders some land for Syrians to return but only some have returned.
Turkey has always bought oil from Iraq but during 2014 of the conflict was the time when ISIS took control. Turkey would have still needed oil. They would have had to make decisions and some deals to get oil still. They had to reimburse years later.
War is barbaric and people on all sides as well as neighbours suffer.

[SC-vwnx]

Slow down man ! Greece is arming abd militarise the islands, which is against law and agreements !

[sarandongapichibiripichibi]

Thankyou for talking the truth, MashaAllah💖🌺❣️🌸i didnt know turkey was also involve in the ilegal ocupation of Syria and Iraq i did knew of the others but not this one💖keep it up💪🏽and thankyou

[giorgioviras]

To all people continuing the false claims that Greece should demilitarize their islands according to the treaty of Laussanne, here is the only paragraph in the treaty of Laussanne that mentions any form of ''demilitarization'':

ARTICLE 13

''With a view to ensuring the maintenance of peace, the Greek Government undertakes to observe the following restrictions in the islands of Mytilene, Chios, Samos and Nikaria:
(I) No naval base and no fortification will be established in the said islands.
(2) Greek military aircraft will be forbidden to fly over the territory of the Anatolian coast. Reciprocally, the Turkish Government will forbid their military aircraft to fly over the said islands.
(3) The Greek military forces in the said islands will be limited to the normal contingent called up for military service, which can be trained on the spot, as well as to a force of gendarmerie and police in proportion to the force of gendarmerie and police existing in the whole of the Greek territory.''

Yes that's right, the 'Demilitarization' thing is actually a military RESTRICTION, not demilitirization, of FOUR islands, yet Turkey claims that Greece should completely demilitarize ALL their islands according to the treaty, which as you can see is really laughable.

Does Greece complain that Turkey has large army divisions and weapons on its Anatolian shores and threatens that they will annex their lands? No, of course not. Does Turkey do that? Well, yes, it does. So who is really the agressor here?

Plus, since we are talking about violation of the Lausanne agreement, do you have any idea how many times Turkey has violated paragraph 2 of the Article 13 I posted? The one about the airspace? Probably thousands.

Not to mention the many times Turkey has violated the Articles 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of the treaty of Lausanne. The peak of this violation being the Pogrom against the Greek minority in 1955.

[alanh]

I sincerely hope, Mick will not be returning to the EU.
Irish Voter.