The Annual International Conference on the EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds was hosted by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the GUE/NGL Group, the Greens-European Free Alliance (GREENS/EFA) and the Groups of the Free Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). The conference was successfully held on 5th and 6th of February 2020 in the European Parliament in Brussels.
After his first visit to the country, the Turkey Rapporteur for the European Parliament said, new narratives are needed for the relationship between Turkey and the EU. From the perspective of the conference, new narratives are also needed, not only for relations with Turkey, but also for the whole Middle East. The Kurds are a major influential factor here in terms of stability, peace building, democracy, ecology and gender equality. Together with their regional allies and due to their global perspectives, they provide a basis for new narratives in a region marked by wars and crises. Strengthening cooperation with these democratic forces should therefore be a top priority.
Based on this the conference calls upon the EU member states, the European institutions and the United Nations to:
- Treat Turkey’s occupation of North Syria / Rojava as a clear violation of international law, condemn its policy of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory, and call for an immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops.
- Recognise the North-East Syria’s Autonomous Administration as an important step towards a political solution to the Syrian conflict and to integrate their representatives in the commission for the establishment of a new constitution for Syria. The best way for a solution is to include all ethnic and religious entities in a democratic process leading to a decentralized self-administration with equal rights for women and men.
- Urge Turkey to stop airstrikes and its occupationist endeavors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq which is a clear violation of international law.
- Urge Turkey to release all elected officials and members of the HDP, to respect the decision of the electorates, and to reinstitute the mayors replaced by the government appointed trustees.
- Not to sacrifice the EU’s democratic values by caving in to Turkey’s blackmailing on the issues of refugee crisis and the jihadist threat.
- Take diplomatic, political and legal measures to compel Turkey to comply with international law concerning the ongoing isolation of Abdullah Ocalan, and urge the Turkish government to immediately release him and to return to dialogue for a political solution to the Kurdish question.
- Contribute to a political solution by lifting all restrictions on Kurdish parties and individuals, in light of the decisions of the European Court of Justice and the Belgian Court of Cassation, which insist that the PKK is not a terrorist organization but a party to an internal armed conflict.
EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission
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16th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON “THE EUROPEAN UNION, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS”
Brussels, The European Parliament
Wednesday 5th of February – 14:30 – 18:30
Thursday 6th of February – 09:30 – 17:00
PATRONS
ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, South Africa
SHIRIN EBADI
Human Rights Lawyer
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Iran
BIANCA JAGGER
The Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador
Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, the UK
NOAM CHOMSKY
Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy,
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the USA
LEYLA ZANA
European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,
Rafto Prize Laureate, Turkey
In cooperation with
IMPORTANT TECHNICAL INFORMATION
“HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND ENTER THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT”
An official “European Parliament personal badge/pass” will be available for all participants who have already registered their names.
Your “personal badge / pass” will be available at the main entrance of the European Parliament (Place de Luxembourg – main European Parliament’s building “Altiero Spinelli”
Wednesday 5th of February, 13:00 – 14:00
Thursday 6th of February, 08:00 – 09:00
All participants must take care of their own “EP badge / pass” during both days. If someone loses their “pass / badge”, the EP internal rules make it impossible to produce a replica.
For any additional information, please contact the conference’s secretariat at:
brusselsconferenceep@gmail.com
Wednesday, 5th of February 2020, 14:30-15:30
The Opening Session, Room ASP 1G2 (Spinelli Building)
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
The Opening Speeches and Greetings
Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the EUTCC, University of Bergen, Norway Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Denmark Andreas Schieder, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria François Alfonsi, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), France Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Vice-President of The European Parliament, Greece
Wednesday, 05th of February 2020, 15:30-17:00
Panel I – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
Oppression and Resistance in Turkey
Moderator: Mr. Joost Jongerden, University of Wageningen, EUTCC board member, The Netherlands
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
Conflict Over Vital Resources
Benoit Biteau, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), France
Strengthening Democratic Forces in Turkey: Challenges vs. Options
Özlem Demirel, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Germany
Opposition Between Unity and Division
Cihangir Islam, MP, The Felicity Party (SP), Turkey
Turkey 2023: Dictatorship vs. Democracy
Gülistan Koçyiğit, MP, The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Turkey
Questions and Discussion with the Audience
Wednesday, 05th of February 2020, 17:00-18:30
Panel II – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
The EU – Turkey Relationship: Accession Talks, Refugee Crisis and The Kurds
Moderator: Mr. Cengiz Aktar, Political Scientist
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
Accession talks – (Never) Ending Story?!
Andreas Schieder, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria
The Refugee Crisis and Europe’s Response
Tineke Strik, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), The NetherlandsThe Kurdish Question and Europe: Criminalization vs. Responsibility for Peace Building
Jan Fermon, Lawyer, BelgiumKey Point Imrali: The Power of Freedom
Newroz Uysal, Lawyer, The Asrın Law Office, TurkeyQuestions and Discussion with the Audience
Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 09:30-10:30
Panel III – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
The Middle East in The Context of Turkey’s Invasion of North-East Syria / Rojava
Moderator: Ms. Evin Incir, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Sweden
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
Turkish Invasion of North-East Syria / Rojava
Leila Chaibi, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), FranceThe Kurds: The Gordian Knot or The Central Key
Søren Søndergaard, MP, Enhedslisten – The Red-Green Alliance, DenmarkTurkey’s Expansionist Ambitions
Kirmanj Gundi, Tennessee State University, USAPost-ISIS: Lines of Conflict with Ethnic and Denominational Impacts
Ferda Çetin, Journalist, BelgiumQuestions and Discussion with the Audience
Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 11:00-12:00
Panel IV – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
The Turkish Invasion of Rojava and its Impact on Women and Gender Equality
Moderator: Ms. Sira Rego, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Spain
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
Interview with Representatives of the Democratic Federation of North-East Syria / Rojava
Majdoleen Hassan, Deputy Co-Presidency of The Syrian Democratic Council, North-East Syria / Rojava
Khadija Barakat, The Kongra Star Representative, Germany
Nazire Gewriye, The Syriac Union Party, North-East Syria / RojavaThursday, 06th of February 2020, 12:00-13:00
Panel V – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
Europe and the Middle East: Self-Interest vs. Democracy
Moderator: Mr. Jürgen Klute, Former MEP, Germany
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek
European Perspectives on The Complexity of The Middle East
Brando Benifei, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), ItalyEurope and The Kurdish Battle
Thomas Schmidinger, Political Scientist, University of Vienna, AustriaTransformation Process from The Kurdish Perspective in The Context of Democracy, Ecology and Gender Equality
Dersim Dağdeviren, KURD-AKAD, EUTCC Board Member, GermanyEurope’s Approach Vis-a-Vis the Ocalan Case
Simon Dubbins, Director of International for UNITE the Union in the UK, the UKQuestions and Discussion with the Audience
Thursday, 06th of February, 15:00-16:00
Panel VI – Room ASP 1E2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
There Are Alternatives!
Moderator: Mr. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, The Netherlands
Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, and English. (Passive in Spanish, Germany and Greek)
Towards European and International Politics Based on Solidarity
Malin Björk, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), SwedenDemocracy in War Time: How a Society Reorganises Itself and Offers Perspectives Beyond the Middle East
Nazan Üstündağ, Sociologist, GermanyThe Rise of Kurdish Women and Their Battle Against Feminicide
Aviva Stein, The New World Summit, The NetherlandsRethinking Democracy: Kurdish Perspectives For 2023
Amed Dicle, Journalist, BelgiumLocal Solutions to Global Challenges – Living International Solidarity
Juan Carlos Guerra Moldonado, Historian, EcuadorQuestions and Discussion with the Audience
Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 16:15-17:00
The Closing Session – Room ASP 1E2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)
Conclusions, Recommendations and The Final Resolution
Board of the EUTCC
Ms. Dersim Dağdeviren, Germany
Mr. Michael Gunter, USA
Mr. Joost Jongerden, Netherlands
Mr. Thomas J. Miley, UK
Ms. Estella Schmid, UK
Ms. Kariane Westrheim, Norway