Topics and links – August 2014

Update: This post is available in all EU languages – please see at the bottom of this post.

In this issue: ISIS terror and humanitarian disaster in Iraq, tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, independence of the judiciary in Turkey, TTIP negotiations.

Recent international conflicts were the dominating issues in the correspondence of citizens to the European Parliament in August 2014. Citizens shared their worries regarding the situation in Iraq, eastern Ukraine and in Gaza and called on the EU to help the people in the conflict regions and to contribute to finding a solution.

The following topics are based on questions and comments from citizens writing to the European Parliament.

ISIS terror and humanitarian disaster in Iraq

Following the deterioration of the situation in Iraq, citizens expressed their concern for the Christians living in the country as well as the other civilians who are caught up in the fighting and who try to flee as refugees to Jordan.

The following links will guide you to the relevant information:

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Iraq and its press release (17 July 2014)

EPRS: Iraq: towards an independent Kurdistan? (10-07-2014)

EPRS: EU response to Iraq’s degenerating situation (24-02-2014)

EP delegation for parliamentary relations with Iraq

Crisis in Iraq: The European Union’s humanitarian response (29 August 2014)

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine

The tensions between Russia and Ukraine continued to worry citizens, who commented on the violent conflict in eastern Ukraine and urged the European Union to take more determined action to resolve the crisis.

The following links will guide you to the relevant information:

EP answer: MH17 aircraft disaster and EU reaction on Russia’s role in eastern Ukraine (8-8-2014)

MH17 crash: MEPs call for solidarity with Ukraine and sanctions against Russia (22-07-2014)

MEPs call on Russia to cooperate with Ukrainian peace plan (17-07-2014)

Special meeting of the European Council ‒ Conclusions (30-8-2014)

European External Action Service (EEAS): EU declarations and decisions

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

In the light of the recent escalation of violence in Gaza in the context of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, some citizens requested information about the position of the European Parliament, and called on the European Union to take action.

The following links will guide you to the relevant information:

EP answer: Israeli-Palestinian conflict: violence escalation in Gaza (6-8-2014, update: 28-8-2014)

Schulz on Gaza ceasefire agreement (27-8-2014)

Resolution on the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine 17-7-2014)

European External Action Service (EEAS): EU declarations and decisions

Independence of the judiciary in Turkey

After the arrest of police officers accused of wiretapping the government, citizens wrote to the European Parliament calling on the EU to react in view of the developments concerning independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression in Turkey.

The following links will guide you to the relevant information:

EP resolution on the 2013 progress report on Turkey and its press release (12 March 2014)

EPRS: Social media freedom in Turkey (30-07-2014)

EPRS: Turkey: the 2013 progress report and beyond (8-03-2014)

EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee

European External Action Service (EEAS): EU declarations and decisions

TTIP negotiations

Citizens continued to express worries about a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US. Recurrently, citizens criticise the confidential character of the negotiations and show particular interest in possible consequences of Investor to State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions and in the EU’s standards in the field of environment, consumer rights or data protection.

The following links will guide you to the relevant information:

EPRS: analysis on different aspects of TTIP

MEPs call for more transparency in transatlantic trade talks (16-7-2014)

European Parliament resolution on the opening of negotiations on a plurilateral agreement on services (4-07-2013)

European Commission’s website on TTIP