§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the European Union will take any steps to secure the release of 101 writers and journalists now serving prison sentences in Turkey, according 86WA to international PEN, and to discuss with the Turkish Government possible amendments to their Anti-Terror Law which would help to bring them into conformity with the European Convention on Human Rights as regards freedom of expression.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe European Union has registered its concerns with the Turkish Government about curbs on freedom of expression on many occasions. It did so recently during the European Union's Association Council with Turkey on 6 March; during the visit of troika Foreign Ministers to Turkey on 23 March; and in a public statement on 9 May. We expect the European Union to continue to maintain pressure on Turkey over democratisation and human rights.