STRASBOURG, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted in favor of a non-binding motion to temporarily freeze Turkey's accession
talks to join the European Union (EU) on Thursday.
The MEPs urged the European Commission and national governments to halt the ongoing EU membership talks with Turkey, which was blamed for its
""disproportionate repressive measures"" in response to July's failed military
coup.
In the text, adopted by a strong majority of 479 votes to 37, with 107 abstentions, MEPs indicated that ""Turkey is an important partner of the EU""
before qualifying, ""But in partnerships, the will to cooperate has to be
two-sided (...) Turkey is not showing this political will as the government's
actions are further diverting Turkey from its European path.""
In a Tuesday debate with MEPs that proceeded Thursday's vote, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign relations head, tried to avoid alienating the EU
partner while inviting MEPs to share their views.
""Some say that Turkey has to choose between the West and the East. Personally, I do not agree. Turkey can -- and should -- stay true to its nature
as a bridge between worlds and cultures,"" Mogherini declared to the Strasbourg
hemicycle.
""But if Turkey moves further away from our European Union and from democracy, it would lose part of its own heritage, its own identity, its own
culture and also its own power.""
Belgian head of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group, Guy Verhofstadt, however, was more critical during the debate: ""Let's not fool
ourselves anymore. We all know that this is not in compliance with European
values, that it is not in compliance with European principles.""
Briton Syed Kamall, speaking on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, showed a rare point of agreement with his Belgian peer. ""The
EU continues to pretend that it is 'business as usual' in relations with Turkey.
But we can all see that the current relationship is not working,"" the
conservative MEP declared.
""We are not abandoning Turkish citizens -- they believe in the same values as us -- nor are we abandoning the vibrant civil society that is today under so
much pressure. Our doors remain open,"" reassured Hungarian MEP Kati Piri
(Socialists and Democrats group), before specifying, ""We are merely reacting to
what is happening in a country that says it wants to join the European Union.""
According to Turkish state media Anadolu Agency, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would not be moved by the resolution, saying on Wednesday
that the vote would hold ""no value"" in Turkish eyes, claiming ""our country
has not seen real support from the Western countries.""
A temporary freeze on accession talks would require no new negotiating chapters being opened and no new initiatives taken regarding Turkey's EU
Negotiation Framework, which became active on October 3, 2005.
Turkey's bid to join Europe began with the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community (EEC), with an accession application filed in 1987. The
country was first recognized as a candidate by the EU in 1999, with EU leaders
agreeing in 2004 to open accession negotiations with Ankara.
Talks have faltered, however, in recent years due to disagreements over the handling of refugees in the migrant crisis that has been ongoing since 2015,
human rights issues, and other issues.
Territorial disagreements over the status of the island of Cyprus have also been a sticking point for negotiations since they opened.
"
by Eric J. Lyman
ROME Maillot Ousmane Dembele France , March 25 (Xinhua) -- Looking to reduce waste and help feed the most needy in the country, Italy is embarking on an
initiative that will encourage supermarkets and restaurants to donate unsold
food after a related law passed last week in the lower house.
Italy now is the second European country to embark on a plan with similar goals. In February, France made it illegal for supermarkets to throw away edible
food. So far Maillot Zinedine Zidane France , the French plan -- which fines those who discard edible food -- has drawn mixed reviews.
The Italian plan is different: supermarkets and grocery stores are not required to donate food that is unsold because of cosmetic damage or nearness to
its expiry date, but they are offered an array of tax incentives when they do
donate.
"The Italian plan is well thought out and, in theory Maillot Alexandre Lacazzete France , should work," Marco Lucchini, director general of the Banco Alimentare Foundation Maillot Olivier Giroud France , told Xinhua. "It's based on incentives that will make the idea attractive to many supermarkets or restaurants. That usually
will work better than threats."
Despite that, experts are split on how much of an impact the food initiative will have. Lucchini said it would nearly double the amount of food waste kept
out of landfills -- from 550,000 tons today to 1 million tons within two years
-- while Andrea Segre Maillot Thomas Lemar France , founder of Last Minute Market, a spin-off from the University of Bologna, said that while the plan represents a positive
step Maillot Antoine Griezmann France , its impacts would likely be limited.
Anti-poverty groups said they would welcome the new source of food, which will help feed thousands in extreme poverty, though there is some concern about
how the donated food items will be stored safely and transported to where it is
needed.
But according to Stefano Cifani Maillot Paul Pogba France , president of the Italian environmental lobby group Legambiente, one of the biggest benefits from the plan will be the reduced
impact on the environment. By reducing the amount of organic waste in landfills,
it lessens the waste crisis in the country Maillot Samuel Umtiti France , reduces dangerous organic runoff and some of the unhealthy fumes decomposing waste can create.
"This has the potential to be a win-win-win situation," Cifani said in an interview. "The supermarkets get a tax break, there is more food for those in
need Maillot Raphael Varane France , and, above all, the environmental hea. Cheap Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Hats Wholesale Jerseys China Free Shipping Wholesale NHL Hoodie Wholesale Nike NFL Hoodie Wholesale Hats Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap NHL Hockey Jerseys
