The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to cancel 70 million euros ($80.7 million) in pre-accession assistance for Turkey, noting that the latter failed to meet conditions on improvement of the rule of law and human rights.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd October, 2018) The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to cancel 70 million Euros ($80.7 million) in pre-accession assistance for Turkey, noting that the latter failed to meet conditions on improvement of the rule of law and human rights.
"Parliament on Tuesday decided to cancel 70 million in pre-accession funds earmarked for Turkey, as conditions to improve the rule of law were not met," the parliament said in a statement.
The parliament clarified that the sum was earmarked in November provided that Ankara "makes measurable, sufficient improvements in the fields of rule of law, democracy, human rights and press freedom."
The European Commission's 2018 report on Turkey however found that Turkey had been drifting significantly away from the European values, in terms of the rule of law and presence of "effective checks and balances in the political system."
The parliament suggested that the funds be redirected to the European Neighbourhood Instrument instead to cover efforts related to the Central Mediterranean migratory route and increase humanitarian aid to Syria, the statement added.
Over recent years, the European Union has been stepping up its criticism of the situation with human rights in Turkey. Europe strongly criticized the detention of German journalists and human rights activists in Turkey on terrorist charges. The arrests came amid the deterioration of ties between Ankara and the bloc, sparked by the latter's condemnation of mass arrests in the country in the wake of the failed 2016 coup. The activists were ultimately released, but criticism has continued, as Turkey switched from the parliamentary to the presidential form of government, which has upset the system of checks and balances in the country, according to the bloc.
