On March 30, Minister-president Jan Jambon argued once again for an end to accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey. The reason was the discussion in the Committee on Foreign Policy, European Affairs, International Cooperation and Tourism of a request for explanation of the response of the European Commission to the resolution on a fundamental strategic reconsideration of relations between the European Union and Turkey and of a request for explanation of the anti-Kurdish repression by Turkey, the procedure to dissolve the pro-Kurdish party and the murders of Kurdish politicians.
On February 18, 2021, the European Commission provided a response to the resolution adopted by the Flemish Parliament. In it, the Commission states that it takes seriously the concerns of the Flemish Parliament about recent developments in Turkey's internal and foreign policy and in relations between the EU and Turkey.
Minister-president Jambon also emphasized the seriousness of the situation. In his answer to both parliamentary questions, he stated that Turkey, as a candidate country to the EU and a member of the Council of Europe, must urgently fulfill its basic democratic obligations, including respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The Minister-president is therefore of the opinion that accession negotiations with Turkey on EU membership should be stopped. He will continue to call on Europe to send a strong signal to Turkey about this.
More information:
https://www.vlaamsparlement.be/commissies/commissievergaderingen/1488227/verslag/1492348
https://www.vlaamsparlement.be/commissies/commissievergaderingen/1493196/verslag/1498899
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