STRASBOURG - European Parliament`s Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten said on Wednesday that the message given by her report on Turkey, which was adopted today, targets not only the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party but also the opposition parties.
After the report was approved, Dutch parliamentarian Oomen- Ruijten told reporters that opposition parties in Turkey also bear responsibility in the accomplishment of reforms which are necessary for the modernization of Turkey.
Oomen-Ruijten said that speeding up the reform process would contribute to the modernization of Turkey, adding that the recommendations in the report aimed to strengthen basic rights and to increase living standards. She said that a modern Turkey was also in the interest of EU countries.
Referring to dissolution cases pending before the Constitutional Court, Oomen-Ruijten said that Europeans were expecting Turkish Parliament to amend the constitution on the basis of principles laid out by the Venice Commission.
The EP adopted on Wednesday a report on Turkey and urged the government to accelerate reforms. In a plenary session, the EP discussed and voted the report, prepared by Dutch MEP Oomen- Ruijten. The report is non-binding and recommendatory.
(GC-ULG)