Nacho Sanchez Amor, European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, met with Turkish journalists on October 9 during a visit to Istanbul. Speaking to Medyascope, Nacho Sanchez Amor underlined that the last two years were the worst year in ties between Turkey and European Union but relations are slightly better. He also citing that Turkey’s steps in Eastern Mediterranean resumption of dialogue as a positive move. Amor added that, “We need political fact. We need that Turkey shows the political will to come back to European path.”
Emphasizing that they can open a new page in relations with the positive signals that received from Turkey, Amor said that, “And for me, Kavala case is a missed opportunity for Turkey. We are asking really to have the opportunity to enter in a new period in our relations. And we can talk about Customs Union. We can talk, of course, about migration, how to revamp the accession process in itself. But we do really need some signals.”
On the ongoing migration deal between Turkey and the EU, Amor underlined that that EU’s apprecition toward Turkey’s extraordinary effords in dealing the Syrian refugees and said, “First and foremost, recognizing the role of Turkey and to praise them clearly that Turkey took an enormous responsibility to have for millions of only seven million persons is an enormous responsibility. We have to praise the Turkish authorities. We have to praise Turkish society. We have to praise the municipalities had an enormous role in that question and we have to recognize that Turkey has been a reliable partner in this dossier. But now the European Union is ready to reengage and the European Parliament is ready to reengage financially.”
Characterizing that Turkey’s ratification to Paris Climate Agreement through to parliament as a positive step, Amor also welcomed the acquital in the METU Pride Parade case. Amor said, “This is the kind of sign we want to receive. I also underlined the news of the acquittal of the students in Ankara related to the pride parade case. These are good news. We need more good news to try to create.”
