The 19th European Union Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) conference titled 'The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds' opened on Wednesday afternoon at the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference will continue today.
Kariane Westrheim, chair of the EUTC, said that Abdullah Öcalan’s 'Call for Peace and a Democratic Society', had been welcomed with great appreciation by both the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. She continued: "Hope has now transformed into a force. What the Kurds are saying strengthens collective efforts. We saw this in a much more tangible way during Newroz. A power never seen before filled the streets. We hope that this opportunity for peace will be used wisely and lead to a democratic Turkey."
**Schieder: The Kurdish movement is a struggle for freedom and democracy**
Andreas Schieder, Member of the European Parliament from the Austrian Social Democratic Party and a member of the Kurdish Friendship Group, spoke next and referred to Ocalan’s recent call and said: "The Kurdish movement is also a struggle for freedom and democracy. When we look at what is happening in Turkey, the Middle East, and the world, the importance of the Kurdish struggle becomes clearer than ever."
**Williams: Remaining silent is worse than being complicit**
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams said that peace requires the will of both sides. She noted that the position of the Turkish state regarding peace and a resolution remains unclear. She added: "I have been an activist since the Vietnam War. We destroyed Vietnam and many other countries. Over the years, people have learned what repression means. When I asked other Nobel laureates to sign a statement in support of the Kurdish people's call for peace, I realized how new the Kurdish issue was for many of them. Moreover, the Turkish state remained silent in the face of our appeal and did not respond to our demands. At this stage, remaining silent is worse than being complicit. The oppression of the Kurdish people must end. The attacks targeting Kurds living in Syria must end."
**Ebadi: The time has come for Öcalan to be released**
Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi pointed out that the world is going through a critical period. Noting that an average of 200 people are killed every day in the Middle East, she commented on Öcalan’s February 27 call with the following words: "Someone stood up and dared to speak the word ‘peace’ in order to put an end to this suffering. And that person has been held in isolation for decades, imprisoned for his ideas. Yet he still declared that the time for peace had come. He said: ‘Let us rise up.’ He called on those who support him to lay down their arms and join the peace process. In the midst of such crisis and chaos, this message is of great importance. The time has come for Öcalan to be released. His proposals are rational and grounded. The idea of developing the country and the region through democratic means is of vital importance."
**Democracy means respecting the rights of minorities**
Shirin Ebadi emphasized that peace cannot be achieved without democratization. She addressed the ongoing repression of Kurds in the region, saying: "We all know the reality faced by Kurds living in Turkey and Syria. There are ongoing attacks against Kurds both in Turkey and in Iran. In 2022, an uprising began after the killing of Mahsa Amini. When Mahsa was born, her father wanted to name her Jîna. However, the Iranian government did not allow it and forced the name Mahsa upon her. I cannot understand this. Is being Kurdish a crime? If there is true democracy in a country, such things should never happen. Democracy does not mean the rule of the majority. It does not mean that whoever wins the most votes can do whatever they please. Democracy means respecting the rights of minorities. It means respecting the rights of those who lose elections. In every part of the world, there are laws, rights, and legal frameworks. You cannot use the law as a weapon to imprison your opponents. What we are fighting for is a future in which everyone can enjoy their rights equally."
The second session began with journalist Cahit Mervan as moderator. Mervan reminded attendees that the focus was on finding a path to resolution and noted that Abdullah Ocalan’s recent call has sparked widespread discussion around the world in recent days.
**Ahmed: Ö****calan must be given the opportunity to act**
Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration, was the first to take the floor in the second session. She addressed the problems stemming from the nation-state mentality in the 21st century. She emphasized that the current system is deeply patriarchal and gender-biased and underlined the need to struggle in order to resolve the resulting crises.
Ahmed continued: "The Middle East is being reshaped, and all of these processes must be discussed. The Kurdish struggle within the region is of critical importance. Kurds remain divided between four states. In Syria, a deep crisis has persisted for the past 14 or 15 years. The country is now in a phase of reconstruction. The current authorities in Damascus must engage with all the peoples of Syria. However, we have not yet seen any real effort by the interim government to do so. In fact, we see little difference between the current transitional authority and the old Baath regime. The government in Damascus does not represent the peoples of Syria. Over the past five years, we have witnessed indications that a new regime is likely to be formed with an Islamic and radical character. In order to resolve the problems in the region, Öcalan must be allowed to play a role—and he must be given the opportunity to do so."
**Barrena: Laying down arms has made us stronger**
Basque MEP Pernando Barrena (EH Bildu) highlighted the parallels between the situation in the Basque Country and the Kurdish struggle. He recalled that in the past, violence had been met with violence, and as a result, the Basque people had also resorted to force. During that period, he noted, human rights violations occurred on both sides.
Barrena continued: "The world is changing. Whatever decision the Kurdish national movements make, it will ultimately be in favor of the Kurdish people. In the Basque Country, we were subjected to violence for 60 years. Fifteen years ago, the Basque movement declared that the peace process should begin without waiting for a formal agreement with Spain or France. Although there was criticism at the time, this move gave us political strength. Today, we have become a strong force in the Basque Parliament. The stability of the Spanish government depends on our votes, and this makes our role even more significant. We are doing everything we can to fight for our independence and social justice. The Kurds should not fear the future. There will be great struggles, but also great opportunities. The Kurdish people are never alone. Abdullah Ocalan must also be released without delay."
**Gunter: Trump will ultimately give Erdoğan what he wants**
Professor Michael Gunter, Secretary General of the EUTCC, shared his analysis of the emerging global order. Drawing a parallel between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Gunter said that, despite all his alarming traits, Trump does not want war—therefore, he would not use military force to stop Turkish state aggression. According to Gunter, Trump will eventually give Erdoğan what he wants.
Following Gunter’s remarks, human rights lawyer Czarina Golda S. Musni from the Philippines took the floor and summarized the ruling of the Rojava Peoples’ Tribunal.
**Orlando: Negotiation is essential for peace**
Leoluca Orlando, a Member of the European Parliament from Italy’s Green Party, stated that war is not a prerequisite for peace, but negotiation is. Emphasizing that diversity should be seen as a source of richness, Orlando said: "The Turkish state once banned the word ‘Kurd.’ I love Turkey, but it is unacceptable that anyone who expresses an opinion ends up in prison. The European Union must wake up and open its eyes. The suffering endured by the Kurdish people can no longer be ignored through silence. We want to live in mutual solidarity with all oppressed peoples."
**Prebilic: The end of the Erdoğan regime may be near**
Vladimir Prebilic, a Member of the European Parliament from Slovenia’s Green Party, condemned the trustee appointments in Turkey, calling them unacceptable. Referring to the extension of Erdoğan’s power, Prebilic pointed out that not only are elected officials being imprisoned, but their replacements are not being chosen by the people either—resulting in a complete usurpation of municipal authority. He emphasized that democracy is essential for Turkey’s growth, both materially and morally. Recalling the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu, Prebilic suggested that such developments may signal the approaching end of the Erdoğan regime.
**Topuz: Peace and democracy are deeply needed**
Journalist Ali Duran Topuz, who spoke last in the second session, emphasized that peace and democracy are urgently needed in Turkey. He stated that the struggle for peace is just as vital as the struggle for bread and water. Topuz continued: "A new process has recently begun in Turkey, and it gives us a sense of hope. Government officials speak of brotherhood and justice, but we do not see any practical steps being taken. As a result, people have lost their trust. Across the country, hundreds of people were detained for opposing the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu. Everyone is standing up against this authoritarian regime. Around ten years ago, a process was initiated to resolve the Kurdish question. But ten years ago, Erdo**ğ**an abandoned it—because he wanted to win elections. By ending that peace process, he reignited the war and secured electoral victory."