Turkey must halt its military operations in Syria, according to the European Union. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker calls on Ankara to act with restraint and stop the offensive against Kurdish groups in northern Syria. The EU will in any case not pay for the "safe zone" that the Turks want to create in order to settle, among others, Syrian refugees there, he said in the European Parliament.
Several EU countries have condemned the Turkish operation. The EU previously stated that a Turkish military operation will cause civilian casualties and displace many residents from their homes in the area. According to Europe, the conflict must be resolved politically, not militarily.
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok has summoned the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands. The minister calls on the ambassador to express disapproval of the Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria.
Blok states that “no one benefits from the potentially terrible humanitarian consequences” of the Turkish invasion. The minister points out that the military actions could trigger new refugee flows and play into the hands of the Islamic State (IS).
He calls the invasion “harmful to stability in the region.” Blok demands more clarity on “the consequences of the operation” through the ambassador and is considering possible next steps. Summoning an ambassador is seen in diplomatic circles as a serious measure.
The Dutch House of Representatives has reacted with concern to the Turkish invasion in Syria. Parties from both the coalition and opposition advocate measures against Turkey. The ruling CDA calls the invasion outrageous but not unexpected. “The announced departure of the United States creates space for Turkey's expansionist drive,” responds CDA MP Martijn van Helvert.
Coalition partner D66 shares this view. “Not unexpected, but very worrying. Now it is up to the EU to persuade Turkey by all diplomatic means and with sanctions to reconsider,” says D66 member Sjoerd Sjoerdsma. Governing partner ChristenUnie also believes this cannot remain without consequences.
The VVD does not rule out sanctions. That party wants prompt responses from the EU, NATO, and the United Nations. Opposition party SP calls it a completely illegal, irresponsible, and unacceptable attack on the Syrian communities. “This is what you get when Trump makes shady deals with President Erdogan,” says MP Sadet Karabulut.
GroenLinks calls the invasion a disaster for the Kurdish civilian population in the area. All forms of military cooperation with Turkey must be immediately suspended, says leader Jesse Klaver. “The EU must now show leadership and call Turkey to order.”