Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if recent developments in Turkey, including the preliminary approval of a new constitution, were discussed at the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Turkey was discussed briefly at the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended last week on 16 January. The constitutional reform package was not discussed.

The issue of constitutional reform has been on the agenda of President Erdogan and the AKP party for a considerable time. Last Friday the Turkish parliament approved a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments proposed by the President. Among the proposals are provisions for an increase in the number of MPs from 550 to 600, a lowering of the minimum age to sit in Parliament to 18 from 25, holding parliamentary and presidential elections concurrently every five years, and a considerable expansion of the executive powers of the President. The next step is a referendum on the complete package which, although no date is yet confirmed, is expected to take place in April.

Given the concerns at EU level and internationally about democracy and the rule of law in Turkey, and given the removal of parliamentary immunity from some 130 democratically elected representatives last May and the subsequent arrest of opposition MPs in November, there are serious considerations about the substance, timing and context of the constitutional proposals.

The Council of Europe, through the Venice Commission, is studying the constitutional package and is scheduled to report on its findings on 10 March. This assessment will be important in informing the position that the EU and Ireland take on the proposed reforms.