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President, Honourable Members,

We are deeply concerned about the continued and worrying situation on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in Türkiye. The European Union has made this clear in the enlargement conclusions last December.

The government's pressure on mayors from opposition parties has continued to weaken local democracy. Displacing mayors undermines local democracy and denies voters their preferred representation.
 
Türkiye should ensure the proper functioning of local democracy in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and with its commitment to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as recommended by the Commission’s country report.  

Honourable members,  

The Turkish government has a legitimate right to fight terrorism, but it is also responsible for ensuring this is done in accordance with the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and its own international commitments.

The European Union’s position on the matter is crystal clear to the Turkish government. We raised it in the Commission’s country report, we raised it in the Council’s Enlargement conclusions of December last year and we even raised at the highest levels, when President Von Der Leyen met with President Erdogan.

The matter is critically at the centre of our relations. Human Rights are non-negotiable. These are core European Union values and we will continue to raise them with our Turkish counterparts.

We will continue to follow the situation very closely – including through our Delegation in Ankara and in cooperation with our Member States. Rest assured that human rights remain key to our common agenda as underlined most recently by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas during her visit to Ankara.  

At the same time, we are closely monitoring the developments in northeast Syria. The European Union continues to urge all actors to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation, to ensure the protection of civilians and to uphold international law, including international humanitarian law.

Thank you. 

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