According to an announcement of the Parliament, as Rapporteur on behalf of the Monitoring Committee on Obligations and Commitments of the Member States in relation to Montenegro, Mr. Tornaritis presented his report and informed the Committee members about his working visit to Montenegro last July and his contacts with the political leadership, the Parliament, independent officials and civil society.
He referred to the main challenges facing the country in terms of necessary reforms and in particular the issue of the election of the judges of the Constitutional Court.
Mr. Tornaritis' report was unanimously adopted by the Commission and is expected to be put to a vote in plenary in early 2023.
Moreover, in the context of a discussion on Turkey's progress in relation to the Council of Europe acquis, Mr. Tornaritis highlighted the regression of the country in all relevant areas, and the visible potential, in view of the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2023, to further undermine democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
This climate, Mr. Tornaritis underlined, would further undermine democracy, human rights and the rule of law. This climate, Mr. Tornaritis said, has also extended to the occupied areas of Cyprus, where Turkey is increasingly tightening its grip on Turkish Cypriots.
In conclusion, Mr. Tornaritis said that the authoritarian nature of the Turkish regime, which is not in line with the basic principles and values of the Council of Europe, is unfortunately also expressed through the expansionist foreign policy pursued by this country at the expense of its neighbours.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
