The European Parliament calls on the 28 to sanction Turkey more harshly (Sassoli)

(B2) Before the Heads of State and Government meeting in the European Council this Thursday (October 17) in Brussels, the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli made very harsh remarks. It demands to strengthen the sanctions at the military, economic and political level

This goes much further than what Member States (with a few exceptions) are prepared to do. The European Parliament is expected to increase the pressure next Wednesday (23 October), just before the NATO ministerial meeting.

A firm condemnation of the offensive

David Sassoli, whose first appearance before the Heads of State and Government, " strongly and unreservedly condemned » the Turkish offensive in northeast Syria. It is " a serious violation of international law" and "this undermines the stability and security of the region as a whole, causes the suffering of a population already affected by the war and hinders access to humanitarian aid. “This military action must be stopped immediately. " he added.

Freeze all current military contracts

The first steps taken by the Europeans — coordinating national embargo measures on future arms sales to Turkey (read: The 28 agree to sanction Turkey for two reasons. UK resists) - are not " not sufficient “, he believes. It's necessary " a common embargo at Union level not only for future arms deliveries, but also for current orders (1).

Implement economic sanctions

Must also " put on the table any possibility of economic sanctions against the Turkish government; these must only concern natural and legal persons and not civil society already affected by the economic crisis ».

Launching the debate at NATO and the UN

Europeans must do everything in our power to put an end to this act of war and launch an initiative that will be discussed within NATO and taken to the United Nations Security Council ».

Suspend membership negotiations

The European Parliament, as it has done in the past, asks again the suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey ". And to find unacceptable [...] any attempt by the Turkish authorities to make a connection between the military action in north-eastern Syria and the fate of Syrian refugees on Turkish territory ».

(NGV)

(1) A completely possible measure but which the Member States have rejected. Read : Arms embargo or arms export policy coordination? See it clearly

Download the discourse from the President of the European Parliament to the European Council