MEP Schaake: Deals with Iran and Turkey overshadow human rights

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union discussed the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East with the Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament today. Member of the European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE) criticized the lack of attention for human rights by the EU, particularly in the context of the deal on migration with Turkey and the nuclear deal with Iran. Schaake condemns the servile approach: "While we always hear human rights are an integral part of all EU policy, in practice it is too often overshadowed by alleged short term interests. This must change. A young generation in the Middle East looks to Europe to recognize their universal human rights. They fail to understand why after the conclusion of the nuclear deal with Iran, there has not been mention of human rights. Similarly the deal the EU has struck with Turkey on migration, seems to be the reason for silence on grave violations of human rights in the country. The EU risks losing credibility. I urge the High Representative to make sure human rights are concretely and prominently featured in the EU Global Strategy we anticipate." More on Turkey: 19-02 Letter on the detention of Syrian journalist Rami Jarrah in Turkey 08-02 Written Question on the Juncker letter to Renzi about the EU-Turkey deal

29-01 Letter to Vice-President Timmermans and High Representative Mogherini on cases of Turkish journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül

26-01 Written Question: Follow up question on the EU-Turkey deal and the Commission letter to Turkey

25-01 Commission letter to Turkey on renewing accession negotiations

22-01 Plenary speech on the situation in the South East of Turkey

20-01 Plenary speech on the situation in the South East of Turkey

12-01 Written Question about the Appendix letter to the EU-Turkey deal

08-01 VP Timmermans must address key concerns in Ankara, not only EU’s interest to curb the flows of refugees

14-12 Written Questions on Turkey detaining 3,000 refugees after EU deal

10-12 Letter to European Commission President Juncker and First Vice-President Timmermans on the deal between the EU and Turkey

More on Iran: 06-01 Media (Carnegie Europe) – Judy Asks: Will Iran and Saudi Arabia Go to War? 08-12 Written Question on exports of sensitive military materials to Iran, Myanmar, Sudan and Syria 10-09 Written Questions on an Inter-institutional task-force on Iran 09-09 Plenary speech on the Iran nuclear agreement 14-07 MEP: Deal with Iran removes important hurdle for broader agenda 08-06 Blog: Visit to Iran 09-04 EU must prioritize human rights in Iran after Lausanne 02-04 Marietje Schaake responds to Iran framework deal