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In spite of Turkey’s continuous violation of human rights and flagrant disregard for Cypriot sovereignty, the EU Parliament’s green light to updating the Customs Union arrangement today has been described by Left MEPs as a win for the despotic Recep Tayyib Erdoğan, and a crushing blow to the democratic opposition in the country.
Today’s plenary vote is an annual assessment on Turkey’s accession process to the EU. This year’s report covers both 2019 and 2020 when Turkish forces made numerous illegal territorial, aerial and maritime violations in the eastern Mediterranean during this period, particularly around Cypriot waters. At the same time, there has also been a massive clampdown on human rights, and widespread arrests of opposition politicians, journalists and activists.