9
Nov
2022
Watch
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Mr President, we were disappointed to see the European Union silenced when the Turkish authorities, quite abusively, detained and barred the governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, from entering Izmir last Saturday. This action is unacceptable since, apart from being a Greek elected official, he is also a European official as First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions. I'd like to ask you this: How long will the European Union be silent on such unacceptable actions by Turkey? Unequivocal condemnation is the least the European Union can do to rise to the occasion, but that is not enough. I therefore call on the European Union to use all the instruments at its disposal to defend its interests and those of its Member States against ever-increasing Turkish provocation.