Nikolaj Villumsen, a member of the European Parliament representing the Red-Green Alliance from Denmark, submitted a parliamentary question to the Council asking about the reports and allegations on Turkish use of chemical agents in its war against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The parliamentary question presented by the Danish MP includes the following:

A report from International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, based on a September 2022 mission, raises questions about Turkey’s possible use of chemical agents in warfare.

The report entitled ‘Is Turkey violating the Chemical Weapons Convention? An independent investigation into possible violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Northern Iraq is urgently needed’[1] highlights Turkey’s possible illegal use of chemical agents against Kurdish fighters. This includes the possible use of chlorine gas, and a high-level Turkish military official admitted the actual use of chemical agents in combat operations.

Such use is explicitly prohibited under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction[2].

In light of this, will the Council please clarify:

• 1.When will it discuss calling for an official mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to explore the allegations?
• 2.What are the possible consequences for an EU-applicant country using chemical weapons?
• 3.Are there any circumstances under which the EU finds the illegal use of chemical warfare agents acceptable, and if so, which circumstances?

• [1] https://www.ippnw.de/commonFiles/bilder/Frieden/2022_IPPNW_Report_on_possible_Turkish_CWC_violations_in_Northern_Iraq.pdf
• [2] https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-3&chapter=26&clang=_en