The Dutch parliament has tied the advancement of the customs union with Turkey to concerns about human rights, explicitly demanding the enforcement of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings calling for the immediate release of Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas.
The resolution, approved after a suggestion by Kati Piri, the former EU-Turkey rapporteur, and Isa Kahraman, a Dutch Parliament member from the Nieuw Sociaal Contract (New Social Contract) party, insists on the liberation of the two detained individuals as a prerequisite for further talks on the customs union within the EU. “No upgrades to the customs union with Turkey until the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are obeyed,” affirmed Kati Piri on the social media platform X.
The customs union is designed to facilitate unobstructed trade in goods between the involved parties. Initially launched in 1995, it has thus far primarily focused on industrial goods and processed agricultural products.
Ahead of the vote, Kahraman stressed, “Human rights lie at the core of our civilization,” urging the government to make these criteria a central component of the customs union discussions with Turkey.
The recent session by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the US Congress has underscored the increasing global attention on Turkey for its failure to adhere to international standards, often prioritized over trade and security ties.
Following this parliamentary stance, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to visit the Netherlands for the upcoming Wittenburg Conference. His agenda includes talks on the customs union, Turkey’s full EU accession, visa liberalization for Turkish citizens, and significant regional matters concerning Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, and Cyprus, possibly serving as leverage points.
