In an answer given by Mr Stefan Füle on behalf of the EU Commission on enlargment on 14 February, the commission expressed its "concerned about the allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons in recent months, and has raised the issue with the Turkish authorities".

Füle remarked that "During discussions at working level at the beginning of December 2011, Turkey replied that an investigation has been launched and that the bodies of the PKK members killed during the clashes have been sent to the Forensic Medicine Institution (FMI) to identify the cause of death. The Commission will continue to raise the issue".

In this context, the Commission "would like to underline that all parties need to work unremittingly to bring peace and prosperity for all the citizens of Turkey. The south-east of Turkey needs peace, democracy and stability as well as social, economic and cultural development. This can only be achieved through consensus on concrete measures expanding the social, economic and cultural rights of the people living in the region".

The answer was given to Tory Charles Tannock EMP.