The European Parliament (EP) has decided to discuss the matter in the general assembly as the fulfillment of 72 conditions required for the lifting of the visas for citizens of Turkey is causing tension between Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and Europe.

The discussion will be held under the urgent agenda issues with the title “Mandatory actions on the road map to visa liberation and those fulfilled by Turkey” and EU Council and Commission officials will be present in the assembly.

'ERDOĞAN’S STAKE DID’T WORK'

After Erdoğan’s showdown against the EU who demand the Anti terror Act be modified in accordance with the principles of fundamental human rights, the EU group chairs have signalled that they will not approve the deal reached with Ankara unless the 72 conditions are met.

Socialist Group chair Gianni Pittella said in the press conference held yesterday that they “don’t accept Erdoğan’s threats and extortion.” Liberal Group chair Guy Verhofstadt said, “All the political groups are in agreement. We will not even put the European Commission’s advisory decision to the agenda before we have definitive proof that the 72 criteria have been met.” Former Belgian prime minister Verhofstadt used the expression, “The council has asked the Commission for full guarantee in this matter, a written guarantee that states all 72 criteria have been met.”

'TURKEY MUST MEET THE CRITERIA'

All political groups in the EP declared that they are in agreement that “the vote for approving the visa liberation will not be made before the criteria are completed” in yesterday’s press conference. The EP Council consisting of group leaders in the European Parliament and EP Chair Martin Schulz had reached an agreement that they would play a constructive role in the refugee situation and the policies of migration and the visa liberation discussed after the deal with Turkey had been made, but Turkey needed to meet all the criteria.

One of the criteria that Turkey has to meet is the transparency law regarding corruption, which is of great interest to the AKP government. The article “EU Standards must be met regarding corruption and it should comply with the GRECO” is expected from Ankara. This approach from the EP means that the Anti-terror Act, which has turned into a tool of witch hunt against the opposition voices in Turkey, particularly the Kurdish politicians and elected politicians, will have to change.

SUPPORT FOR HDP

The EP group chairs also find the process to lift parliamentary immunities for HDP MPs unacceptable.

Liberal Group chair Guy Verhofstadt answered the ANF’s questions and said, “HDP deals with the political arena, not legal investigations and and lifting of immunities.”

Socialist Group leader Gianni Pittella said they find HDP to be a very important party in particularly the solution to the Kurdish question and that they placed a great deal of attention on this.

EP Greens Group Co-chair Rebeca Harms said, “The lifting of parliamentary immunities for the HDP MPs is absolutely unacceptable for us. The EU should stand with HDP with all its institutions.”