B4-0171, 0175, 0179, 0180, 0204 and 0259/95

Resolution on the draft agreement on the conclusion of a customs union between the EU and Turkey

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Council and Commission statements of 14 February 1995 on the conclusion of a customs union between the European Union and Turkey,

-having regard to its resolution of 15 December 1994 on the trial of Turkish Members of Kurdish origin of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and regretting that the Council has not taken this into account,

-having regard to the final negotiations between the Union and Turkey for the customs union which are supposed to be held at the time of the meeting of the General Affairs Council on 6 and 7 March 1995,

A.whereas the Turkish political parties have agreed to examine the modifications to be made to the Constitution, which may affect the very provisions that led to the trial of the parliamentarians,

B.whereas, however, the latest Amnesty International report, the Turkish Human Rights Association and the Human Rights Foundation all record a serious deterioration in the human rights situation in Turkey,

C.whereas, with regard to agreements with third countries, the conditionality clause on human rights is deemed important by all EU Institutions,

1.Believes that the human rights situation in Turkey is too serious to allow the formation of the proposed customs union at present;

2.Appeals to the Turkish Government and to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to undertake a fundamental reform of its Constitution in order better to guarantee the protection of democracy and human rights in Turkey, and to contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem;

3.Calls on the Commission to establish a system of interim reporting on the modifications currently being made to the Turkish Constitution and, more generally, on the measures taken and to be taken to strengthen the rule of law; reminds the Commission and the Council that the planned agreement establishing a customs union between the European Union and Turkey must be submitted for Parliament's assent, which it intends to make conditional on the interim reports on progress made;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission and the Government and Grand National Assembly of Turkey.