Turkish lobby attempts to Drop CoE Draft asking for full Monitoring (with EU effects) ?
*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- While things advance "Normaly" for CoE Assembly's experienced, but also diplomatic, Director General, Wojcieck Sawicki, as he ensured in reply to a relevant "Eurofora"s Question, during the regular Press Briefiing of Strasbourg's Journalists for European News, (See Infra), nevertheless, a series of various converging Factual indications clearly suggest, with High Probability, that a lot of Turkish Lobby's attempts are to be expected, Next Week in Strasbourg, seeking to Drop an Official CoE's Call to ReEstablish a Full Monitoring of Ankara, as it is foreseen in a Draft Resolution due to be Debated and Voted by the PanEuropean Organisation's MEPs' Plenary on Tuesday, 25 April 2017, on a Report examining "the Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Turkey", by Norwegian Conservative MEP Ingebjord Godskesen and Estonian Socialist MEP Marianne Mikko.
Apparently, the main reason for which Ankara is upset, is that a Return to Full CoE's Monitoring on Human Rights Violations and serious Problems related to Democracy and Rule of Law, would practicaly mean tha Turkey's recent Situation clearly does Not Meet EU's "Copenhagen Criteria", which are Necessary for any eventual Candidate wishing to seek a place in EU's Enlargement process. I.e, something which would make the Lucrative Annual EU Funding (in full Grants and various Loans) earmarked for Turkey, (which currently Costs several Billions € per Year) to become Unjustified, since the Lackl of one among its Key Condutions would become obvious.
In a probable Attempt to Divert the Attention of MEPs, the Turkish Delegation prefered to Ask for a Different Debate, about ..."Islamophobia" in Europen once again.
Moreover, the Debate on CoE's and OSCE's Damning Criticism of the controversial Conditions in which was Voted recently the Referendum for a Constitutional Reform considerably augmenting the Legal Powers of President Erdogan, but seriously curtailing those of the Parliament and of Judges, was Postponed for a Month, until a Final Version will be presented at the Standing Committee of CoE's Assembly in Prague, later-on.
The Fact that, despite some possible Oral References by some isolated MEPs, CoE Assembly's Plenary Session, Next Week in Strasbourg, will Not have Any Opportunity to hold a Full Debate and a Vote on that "Hot" Matter, while, apparently, some may Expect for a more Lenient, Final Version of thart Report, Later-on, (as certain Statements from Diplomatic sources abroad, Evoking possible Changes on that Initial Text, clearly seem to indicate), raises, however, obvious Question Marks.
According to Other Sources, as far as it concerns the Main PACE Report (Comp. Supra), Turkey might push, f.ex., for Amendments Droping the Return Back to Full Monitoring, and pointing, instead, vaguely, at some Reforms that Ankara should make in the foreseeable Future, as it has also been done, already, several Times in the Past, in an Anodynous and largely Inefficient way, since it's deprived of concrete consequences which could have convinced the Turkish Government to move.
Any relevant Draft Amendments, on this and/or other Issues of Mrs Godskesen and Mikko Report (Comp. Supra), are expected to be Tabled until Monday Afternoon, 4 p.m., Local Time, in Strasbourg, Mr. Sawicki anounced.
That Turkey Debate, (parallel to another one, due to be held, a Few Days Later, in EU Parliament's "Mini" Session in Brussels, on Wednesday Afternoon, with possiblme Votes on Thursday Morning), is the Main Highlight of CoE Assembly's Plenary Session for the Spring of 2017, Next Week in Srrasbourg, where also the Heads of State from Greece and Spain, President Pavlopoulos and the Spanish King, respectively, are expected to make an Address to the PanEuropean Organisation's MEPs on Wednesday and Thursday.
Significantly, even these 2 European Countries had, notoriously, Faced various Problems about Democracy in the Past, (f.ex. during the 1967-1974 "Colonels" regime in Athens, and the earlier Franco regime in Madrid), resulting in a "Special" Treatment by EU and CoE then, Before they Succeded, Later-on, to Overcome that situation, Establish clearly Democratic Institutions with an acceptable Legal mechanism for Human Rights respect, Concluding, Finaly, to a Normal Status in their relations with both European and Paneuropeaan Organisations until Today.
But such a Greek and Spanish roadmap towards European Integration, passed through Real and Serious pro-Democratic and pro-Human Rights Changes, that the nowadays Turkish regime might, eventualy, not be yet Ready to realy make.
Already, Back on January, a similar CoE's Draft Resolution was finaly Postponed, and Not even Debated by CoE Assembly's Plenary Session for Winter 2017, despite a crystal-clear Vote for such a Debate by a strong Absolute Majority of MEPs, only because of one (1) décisive Contrary Vote inside PACE's "Bureau" (whose Meetings are Traditionaly held behind Closed Doors), by a Controversial then Chairman of a Committee, (very much Criticized afterwards for having taken an Individual initiative Contrary to the Collective Will of his own Committee !), which had Changed the Procedure, from an Absolute Majority into a Special, Enhanced, 2/3 Majority, that wasn't attaigned.
Unveverified yet Rumours about possible "Corruption" of 1 or 2 Individuals also Circulated in PACE's corridors, included in a much Wider Move which finaly convinced CoE's Assembly to Decide a larger Investigation, also on various other such issues, as a matter of general Principle.
But CoE Assembly's President, experienced ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Pedro Agramunt, from Spain, speaking also to Journalists in Strasbourg, including "Eurofora", had, then, Promissed that this Debate on the notorious Problems that faces Democracy in Turkey, particularly on 2015-2017, would, finaly, be realy held on April 2017, i.e. Next Week.
So that, now, it Remains to be seen what will be its Main Results, (Comp. Supra).
(../..)
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("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora" Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap).
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EU Rapporteur on Enlargment Strategy, maistream German MEP Elmar Brok, speaking to "EuroFora", welcomed the proposal made earlier this week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the EU to"start Now Talks with Turkey to create a common Economic and Security area", instead of full Accession, at a period when Ankara looks more and more unfit and/or unwilling to respect EU conditions.
- "For Europe to have strong Political will, it must stop dilutiing itself in an endless Enlargement. It must have borders...Diversities enrich, on the condition that they don't undermine European Cohesion, and don't weaken EU Unity", Sarkozy stressed.
- "Countries like Turkey share a part of common destiny with Europe, with which they have a vocation to build a Privileged Relation, to be closely associated, but not to become Member of the EU" : "Noone respects his friends by telling them lies. Noone respects his friends by making them promises that will be never kept", he added.
That's why "we'd better start, from now, negotiating with Turkey to create a common Economic and Security area", Sarkozy proposed.
Significantly, the French President was repeatedly and largely applauded by EU citizens, 3 times, when he made the Turkey point, (strategically placed between Europe's "Political Will" and its cultural heritage, historically open to mutually enriching dialogue with all the World, but never diluted).
- "We could propose such a great ambition also to Russia, which must not be percieved as an Adversary of Europe, but as a Partner. Thus, we'd create a wide area, of more than 800 Million inhabitants, sharing the same Security, the same Prosperity", he concluded.
Sarkozy's move was anounced at the eve of a Franco-German Top meeting with Chancellor Angie Merkel in Berlin on Sunday, to jointly launch the EU Elections campain, after an EU Summit at nearby Prague, to launch a new kind of relations, called "Eastern Partnership", with neighboring countries such as Urkaine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, etc, (to which Russia, reportedly, is not - and does not want to be - included).
As for Ukraine, which has already expressed her wish to join the EU in future, "Kiev will have a special place, and a very important role to play", replied earlier this week in Strasbourg, to an "EuroFora" question EU Chairman in office , Czech vice-Prime Minister Alexander Vodra.
- "This direction is more Realistic for Turkey than Accession negotiations", reacted immediately EU Parliament's Rapporteur for Enlargment Strategy, mainstream German MEP Elmar Brok, commenting Sarkozy's idea for "EuroFora"
Particularly "as far as it concerns the respect of EU Rules by both sides", he added, hinting at Turkey's now obvious inability and/or unwillingness to abide with EU Acquis, EU Commitments (fex. on Cyprus, etc), and European Democracy/Human Rights rules. (Comp. infra).
Brok added that, in his view, a similar proposal might be made also to Ukraine and other neighbouring Countries, regardless if they have, or not, a "European vocation". This would not necessarily mean that there couldn't be any accession prospects at all." for all the countries that might be included in this area, according to Brok. But it's preferable, particularly for Turkey, "because it's a more Realistic approach than full Membership".
On this point, Sarkozy's proposal, (which he'll share with German Chancellor Merkel), seems more crystal-clear.
- "Turkey does not fullfil EU Criteria, and will never fullfil EU Criteria" on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law. "Some have been lying to Ankara, but we must tell the Truth, and have honest and close relations with her", said meanwhile to "EuroFora" on the same issue also the President of EU Parliament's largest Group of MEPs (ChristianDemocrats/EPP), Joseph Daul.
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"Hot" Debate at EU Parliament reveals CHANGE of mood towards "Suspension" of EU - Tukey talks.
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Earlier this week, many MEPs, and even some of those who were previously in favor of Turkey's controversial EU bid, strongly criticized the persistance and even aggravation of serious Human Rights violations in the country, that ECHR continues to "unanimously" condemn ":
- "After winning a big victory in the latest Local Elections, the pro-Kurdish party DTP almost doubled its Elected Mayors from 52 to 98", but afterwards "more than 400 politicians were thrown to Prison and prosecuted" by the Turkish Authorities, denounced on behalf of the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group, Belgian MEP Frieda Brepoels.
At the same time, "more than 1.500 Children are closed in Turkish Prisons", she added. "What will the EU Commission do" against these facts ?
- "Turkey appears to be at greater Distance away from Copenhagen Criteria after 4 Years of accession Negotiations, than when they started !", denounced on behalf of the Liberal Group, German MEP Alexander Lambsdorf.
"On the central issue of Press Freedom, Critical Journalists face obstacles for their accreditation, others are prosecuted, condemned, fined and/or jailed, Media blocked or closed", he denounced.
- "EU Made 2 grave Mistakes with Turkey : To start accession negotiations, and to continue them", despite everything, criticized Dutch MEP Bastian Belder, on behalf of the Ind/Dem group.
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