The European Union has welcomed the call by Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), for the group to disarm and dissolve, describing it as an opportunity for a peaceful and democratic resolution to Turkey’s Kurdish question.
Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, issued a statement on social media praising Öcalan’s appeal as a significant moment for reconciliation.
"The call today by Abdullah Öcalan on PKK to lay down its arms and be dissolved is a historic step very much welcome. The best starting point for a potential political and inclusive process that will peacefully settle the Kurdish issue in Turkey, based in dialogue & reconciliation," Sánchez Amor posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The EU has consistently advocated for a non-military resolution to Turkey’s decades-long Kurdish conflict, calling for political dialogue and democratic inclusion rather than security-driven measures.
The call today by Abdullah Ocalan on PKK to lay down its arms and be dissolved is a historic step very much welcome. The best starting point for a potential political and inclusive process that will peacefully settle the Kurdish issue in 🇹🇷, based in dialogue & reconciliation.
— Nacho Sánchez Amor (@NachoSAmor) February 27, 2025
Imprisoned Kurdish leader Öcalan’s call for the PKK to convene a congress and decide on disarmament aligns with previous EU positions that have urged Turkey to adopt political reforms addressing Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights. The European Parliament has also criticised human rights violations and the criminalisation of Kurdish political movements in Turkey.
While the Turkish government has yet to formally react to the EU’s response, observers note that any meaningful peace process will require structural political reforms, including local governance rights for Kurdish-majority regions.
The PKK leadership has not yet issued an official response to Öcalan’s call, though earlier this month, the movement had signalled willingness to transform itself in accordance with his directives. Turkey’s next steps, including whether the government will engage in political reconciliation or continue its securitised approach, remain a key question in the coming weeks.
Öcalan’s call has renewed international discussions on Turkey’s approach to the Kurdish issue, with growing calls for a peaceful and democratic settlement rather than a prolonged security-focused policy.
