Monica Frassoni, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, comments on the situation in Turkey.

"In these first days of 2016, the European Greens remain convinced of the need of strengthening the links between the EU and Turkey. Turkey belongs to the European family.

"For this reason we strongly denounce the steady and very worrisome outburst of clashes and the increased repression of civil and human rights in the South-East of Turkey. It is worrying to hear that, rather than taking steps to calm down the situation, the president Erdoğan is thinking to lift the immunity of the democratically elected MPs of HDP and to arrest them. We express our concern that such a move will further complicate the situation.

"The increasing polarisation and the violence in the region put under heavy pressure those who advocate for an immediate ceasefire and for resuming the peace process. We want to express our support for those actors who reject the violence and who are aware that there cannot be lasting peace through war. Also we want to reiterate that only an immediate return to the negotiating table will stop an inacceptable loss of lives, the disruption to the peaceful co-existence of people in Turkey and their forced displacement.

"As a European Party committed to democracy and the rule of law, we believe that we our role is to give visibility and support to the actors of peace. For this reason we are ready to set up a delegation of Greens to visit Turkey in the few next weeks".