Turkey-Syria: EPP Group calls for UN-led security zone

“We strongly condemn the Turkish military intervention in north-eastern Syria and demand that Turkey immediately withdraws from Syria”, said Michael Gahler MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, ahead of the vote on the Resolution on the Turkish military operation in North-east Syria.

“We are in favour of freezing substantial parts of pre-accession assistance for the Turkish government, we regret the lack of agreement on the EU arms embargo and suggest the setting-up of a UN-led security zone in northern Syria for the sake of the people living there”, he added.

He recalled that the European Parliament asked for the formal suspension of the accession negotiations with Turkey already in March 2019. “Turkey’s aggressive behaviour prevents the continuation of such talks. Such actions are not compatible with our values, our policies nor objectives”, he said.

“The EU should continue to support civil society and even upgrade the possibilities for Turkish students who would like to study in Europe”, he concluded.