The EU double standards policy on refugees and Turkey is unacceptable
Statement by Neoklis Sylikiotis, AKEL Political Bureau member, AKEL MEP and GUE/NGL Vice-President
26th October, Nicosia
“Instead of the Council and the Commission criticizing the Turkish government, which is constantly sinking to authoritarianism, for its daily violation of human rights and freedoms, for its invasion of Syria, for the planned genocide of the Kurds, for the silencing of journalists and for the war it is waging against any minority, it is being rewarded. The European Council and Commission have recognized Turkey as a safe country and promised it rewards for keeping refugees away from its borders. The visa liberalization is also being promoted without all its obligations to all Member States having been respected.”
This is what AKEL MEP and GUE/NGL Vice-President Neoklis Sylikiotis stated today, inter alia, in his speech during circle of speeches of the leaders of the Political Groups in the plenary of European Parliament on the debate concerning the European Council’s new decisions.
Neoklis Sylikiotis denounced the EU’s double standards policy vis-a-vis Turkey and the hypocrisy of the implementation of the unacceptable EU-Turkey agreement, which violates International Law and sets out the conditions for the trading of refugees. Furthermore, he also referred to the refugee crisis, referring to the war in Syria and the rejection of the CETA by the Parliament of Wallonia.
“Regretfully, the European Commission and European Council are insisting on increasing the number of border guards, on strengthening FRONTEX and creating new fences at the borders in the direction of a fortress Europe,” he said. “These policies are not the answer to the humanitarian crisis. All they achieve is to strengthen xenophobia and racism.” It is because of the EU’s policies that the Balkan corridor has been closed, Neoklis Sylikiotis noted and he stressed that the only thing the Commission and Council have achieved is refugees drowning off the Libyan coasts and the coast of Lampedusa instead of the Aegean. “What is needed is the development of a refugee policy based on solidarity and humanism. Legal and safe routes for refugees and immigrants, as well as a permanent, binding and just refugee relocation system should be created,” he added.
The Confederal Group of GUE/NGL from a position of principle stands in favor of peace and against any war Neoklis Sylikiotis underlined and justly condemned the attacks on civilians in Syria. At the same time however the EU does not show the same sensitivity when their allies, such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, the US and NATO are killing civilians.
Concerning the EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA), the AKEL MEP saluted the courage of the regional government and Parliament of Wallonia who said “No” to the blackmail ultimatums to sign the CETA.
“The peoples said “No” and through their own struggles they have marginalized the TTIP agreement. What has been happening over the past few days is that the European Council is trying to bring back the CETA by the back door.” The regional government and the Walloon parliament preserved the dignity of Europe and thus expressed the real will of millions of citizens in the Union,” said Neoklis Sylikiotis in his conclusion
