European Parliament urges sanctions on Turkey's justice minister
A damning annual report passes 381-107, naming Akın Gürlek over the İmamoğlu case; Ankara calls it 'hostile propaganda'
Summary
The European Parliament adopted its annual Turkey report on 17 June by 381 votes to 107, with 171 abstentions. It says accession has effectively been frozen since 2018, cites the deterioration of judicial independence, and names the İmamoğlu case as emblematic. The report proposes restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime targeting Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, with the rapporteur saying Turkey's "road to Europe starts at freeing political prisoners, not drone factories." Ankara rejected it as "misinformation" and "hostile propaganda." The vote lands alongside the court-ordered removal of the CHP leader and the İmamoğlu trial, hardening Brussels's position even as defence and migration cooperation with Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues.
By the numbers
- 381-107 — vote adopting the report; 171 abstentions.
- 2018 — year the EP says accession effectively froze.
- 1 — minister, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, named for proposed sanctions.
Why it matters
The Parliament can recommend but not impose sanctions; the report's force is political, documenting Turkey's drift for member states that still want Ankara on defence, energy and migration. Naming a sitting minister escalates the rhetoric without changing the transactional relationship Erdoğan banks on.
What to watch
- Whether the Council or member states act on the sanctions recommendation (unlikely).
- Ankara's response on migration and defence cooperation as leverage.
- Any EP follow-up tied to İmamoğlu trial developments.