Turkey Rejects European Parliament Decision As Interference In Internal Affairs

Meeting in Strasbourg, France, the European Parliament adopted the decision by 502 votes to 2, calling for an end to the use of the N-82 code, which requires prior authorization for entry into Turkey, and the G-87 code, which is based on public security grounds. The decision claimed that around 300 Christian clergy and missionaries had been deported in recent years on the grounds of being a threat to national security. It also referred to the cases of journalists Kaveh Taheri and Marc Lowen, criticizing administrative actions taken without judicial oversight.

Ankara responded without delay. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that allegations concerning freedom of expression and religion in Turkey did not reflect reality and stressed that no foreign institution had the authority to intervene in judicial processes carried out in the country. The statement added that such decisions were contrary to efforts aimed at improving relations between Turkey and the European Union.

The discussion also revived the issue of entry bans imposed on Turkish Cypriots. Since 2020, 15 Turkish Cypriots have reportedly been barred from entering Turkey under G82 and N82 codes, including four individuals working as journalists. The matter continues to be debated in the TRNC public sphere.

TRNC President Tufan Erhürman recently addressed the issue during a “100 Days” meeting, clarifying that his earlier remark describing the bans as a matter for the “first 10 days” was meant to underline their importance. He said he raised the issue during his first visit to Turkey and conveyed it to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, adding that he would continue to follow the process closely.

Tensions also rose over a second European Parliament decision concerning northeastern Syria. The decision welcomed certain agreements reached with the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose backbone is formed by the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK. It alleged that Turkey and Israel were using Syria as a field of indirect rivalry and argued that instability in the region had facilitated the escape of ISIS detainees.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described this decision as misleading and biased, stating that the European Parliament ignored Turkey’s stabilizing role in the region. Ankara called on the Parliament to take constructive steps instead of being used for initiatives against Turkey and emphasized that realities on the ground and the expectations of the Syrian people must be taken into account when shaping Syria’s future.