Statement by Elmar Brok, MEP, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the judicial reform in Turkey

"The committee and its standing rapporteur, Ms Ria Oomen Ruijten, are following closely the discussions on the judicial reform bill currently before the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

We would like to reaffirm that an independent and impartial judiciary, based on a clear separation of powers and in line with European standards, is key for a democratic system of checks and balances and is a key factor for the negotiations between Turkey and the European Union.

In this context, the 2010 judicial reform, which led to the establishment of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, was an important step in the right direction. We call on the Government and Parliament of Turkey to anchor any reform of the Judiciary to the criteria of the Venice Commission, on the basis of close consultations with the European Union and the Council of Europe.

We also expect the investigations and legal proceedings on the allegations of corruption to be pursued without interference. Close EU-Turkey relations are important for both Turkey and the EU and in this context we stress the need and value of close cooperation and dialogue also on the reform process in Turkey".

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  Ria Oomen (1950) was van 9 juni 2015 tot 13 juni 2023 Eerste Kamerlid voor het CDA. De uit Midden-Limburg afkomtige politica kreeg haar politieke scholing bij de KVP- en CDA-jongeren, waarvan zij landelijk voorzitter was. In 1982 werd mevrouw Oomen Tweede Kamerlid. In 1989-2014 was zij lid van het Europees Parlement, waarvoor zij in 2004 en 2009 met voorkeurstemmen werd gekozen. In het Europees Parlement was met name haar rapporteurschap (2007-2014) over de mogelijke toetreding van Turkije tot de EU van belang. Hield zich als Eerste Kamerlid onder meer bezig met sociale zaken, pensioenwetgeving en Europese zaken.