The Kurdish Working Group in the European Parliament, co-chaired by Andreas Schieder, Leoluca Orlando, and Per Clausen, has tabled a written question asking the European Commission to remove the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) from the European Union’s list of terrorist organisations. This initiative comes at a pivotal moment, as developments in Turkey signal a renewed opportunity for peace and democratic resolution of the Kurdish question.

Background: A New Process Emerging in Turkey

On 1 October 2024, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), made an unprecedented gesture by welcoming members of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party to the Turkish Parliament, shaking hands with its co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan. Shortly thereafter, Bahçeli declared:

“A new era is beginning in our country. If we want peace in the world, we must maintain peace in our own country.”

Three weeks later, on 22 October, Bahçeli proposed during a parliamentary address that Abdullah Öcalan be given the opportunity to address Parliament and announce the dissolution of the armed group. It is profoundly symbolic—if not ironic—that Bahçeli, who in 1999 had demanded Öcalan’s execution, should now call for his participation in a national dialogue on peace.

Öcalan Responds to Bahçeli: A Call for Peace and Democratic Society

In response, Abdullah Öcalan issued a message welcoming this historic shift:

“Mr Devlet Bahçeli’s call, together with the will expressed by the President (Erdogan) and the positive reactions of other political parties, has created an environment in which I am calling for the laying down of arms, and I take historical responsibility for this call.”

We are here republishing a translation of Öcalan’s statement, broadcast on 27 February 2025:

“The PKK was born in the twentieth century, in the most violent epoch of humanity—amid two world wars, under the shadow of real socialism and the Cold War. The outright denial of Kurdish reality and the severe restrictions on basic rights and freedoms—especially freedom of expression—played a decisive role in its emergence and development.

The PKK has carried the weight of that century and of the socialist system in its theory, programme, and strategy. Yet the collapse of real socialism in the 1990s, the gradual recognition of Kurdish identity, and expanding freedoms of expression have rendered the PKK’s original rationale less meaningful, leading to repetition rather than renewal.

For more than a thousand years, relations between Turks and Kurds were shaped by cooperation and alliance. Together, they ensured mutual survival in the face of hegemonic powers. The past two centuries of capitalist modernity, however, have sought to fracture this alliance. Monolithic interpretations of the Republic further accelerated that process. Today, the essential task is to rebuild this historical relationship on a foundation of fraternity, diversity, and democratic spirit.

The need for a democratic society is inescapable. The PKK—longest and most extensive insurgency in the Republic’s history—found social support precisely because channels for democratic politics were closed. As any modern movement whose existence is no longer defined by armed struggle would do, I call on all groups to convene their congresses, to decide voluntarily to lay down arms, and for the PKK to dissolve itself.”

PKK’s Historic Decision

On 12 May 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced the results of its 12th Congress, declaring the dissolution of the PKK and its commitment to pursue the Kurdish struggle for democracy and rights exclusively through political and civil means.

In response to Abdullah Öcalan’s historic “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” delivered on 27 February 2025, the Congress concluded that the PKK had fulfilled its historical mission—having brought the Kurdish question to the threshold of a democratic political solution.

This decision marks a turning point in modern Turkish and Kurdish history. It offers a genuine opportunity for lasting peace, the strengthening of democratic politics, and the stabilisation of a region long shaped by conflict and mistrust. At a time when wars and authoritarianism proliferate across the globe, Öcalan’s insistence on resolving conflict through democratic, political means stands as both a source of hope and a call to conscience for all actors who value justice and peace.

EU Response: Support for a New Beginning

Following the PKK’s announcement, international reactions reflected widespread optimism. Governments, institutions, and civil society groups across Europe recognised the magnitude of this development and called for a comprehensive peace process.

On 12 May 2025, the European Union urged all sides to “seize the moment.” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni emphasised that:

“The European Union considers that launching a credible peace process, aiming for a political solution to the Kurdish issue, would be a positive step to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution.”

This statement represented a meaningful diplomatic gesture. Yet, words must now be matched with decisive political action.

The EU has, in the past, demonstrated its capacity to influence Turkey’s political and legal evolution positively, in particular through the Copenhagen Criteria and its broader accession framework. Today, the same principle applies: by removing the PKK from the EU list of terrorist organisations, the European Union can give new momentum to a political solution that aligns with its own values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law.

Such a step would not only reaffirm Europe’s commitment to conflict transformation but would also signal support for peaceful dialogue at a time when democratic pathways in Turkey—and across the wider Middle East—require external encouragement and legitimacy.

The EU Listing of the PKK After Its Dissolution in 2002

The PKK was added to the European Union’s list of terrorist organisations on 2 May 2002, resulting in the freezing of its assets and accounts across member states. Paradoxically, this occurred at a time when the PKK had already declared a ceasefire in 1999 and had, by its own resolution, dissolved itself in April 2002, transforming into a new organisation—the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK).

The inclusion of the PKK on the EU list was therefore not only procedurally questionable but also politically contradictory. During its 15 years of armed struggle, the PKK had not been proscribed at either the EU or UK level; yet, following its renunciation of armed struggle, it was newly labelled as “terrorist.”

This paradox underscores a deeper inconsistency: while the PKK had ended its military operations, withdrawn its forces from Turkey, and committed itself to political resolution, the EU’s action effectively punished peace rather than rewarding it. The listing disregarded the movement’s stated intent to engage democratically, a move that weakened prospects for reconciliation and dialogue.

Legal and Procedural Challenges to the EU Listing

There are both legal and practical grounds for the delisting of the PKK. The 2002 decision to include it on the terror list was taken largely at the request of NATO member Turkey and has since been the subject of significant judicial scrutiny.

In 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that the PKK’s inclusion on the EU terror list between 2014 and 2017 was unlawful, citing procedural errors and referring explicitly to Abdullah Öcalan’s 2013 peace initiative as evidence of the organisation’s political orientation.

Further, in January 2020, Belgium’s Court of Cassation—the country’s highest judicial authority—found that the PKK could not legally be classified as a terrorist organisation under EU anti-terrorism legislation. The court affirmed that the PKK was a party to a non-international armed conflict and thus fell under international humanitarian law (the laws of war), rather than criminal law.

These rulings collectively demonstrate that the PKK’s continued listing lacks both legal legitimacy and factual justification. Despite this, the PKK remains de facto included on the EU list of terrorist organisations, primarily due to political pressure from Turkey.

No EU institution nor any international court has ever determined that the PKK meets the legal criteria defining a terrorist organisation. To the contrary, judicial findings across Europe consistently affirm that the PKK’s classification is politically motivated rather than legally substantiated.

Belgium: A Judicial Victory and a Precedent for Europe

On 28 January 2020, Belgium’s Court of Cassation set a landmark precedent by ruling that EU anti-terrorism legislation cannot be applied to the PKK, as it is a party to a non-international armed conflict, a status that permits the use of legitimate military force within the boundaries of international humanitarian law.

This decision was not only a judicial victory for those advocating a political solution to the Kurdish question but also a legal milestone affirming that the criminalisation of political movements engaged in dialogue runs counter to European legal norms and the broader spirit of human rights.

The Belgian verdict, consistent with rulings from other national and EU courts, provides a solid legal foundation for the European Commission and the Council of the European Union to review and reverse the PKK’s listing, and in doing so, reaffirm the EU’s commitment to justice, proportionality, and peace-oriented policy.

Significant Kurdish and International Campaigns for the Delisting of the PKK

Over the past two decades, Kurdish communities and international civil society actors have consistently mobilised to challenge the PKK’s designation as a terrorist organisation. These efforts reflect both a demand for justice and a call for the EU to align its policies with the changing political reality in Turkey and Kurdistan.

The “I Am Also a PKK Member” Campaign (2001)

In June 2001, thousands of Kurds and their allies across Europe launched the identity campaign “I Am Also a PKK Member.” The first public declaration was made before the Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf, setting in motion an unprecedented act of collective civil disobedience.

By July 20, the daily newspaper Özgür Politika reported interim results indicating that 83,929 individuals from across Europe had voluntarily come forward under the campaign’s slogan. 

This mass declaration was not an expression of militancy but of collective identity and political solidarity. It embodied a clear message: that the criminalisation of the Kurdish movement was unjust, and that peaceful, democratic expression of Kurdish political identity must be recognised as legitimate within Europe’s democratic framework. When Europe criminalizes the PKK, they stigmatize many Kurds who see themselves and their identity embodied by the organization.  

The International Justice Initiative for the Kurds (2023)

On 31 January 2023, the International Justice Initiative for the Kurds submitted to the European Commission an extraordinary petition containing three million signatures calling for the removal of the PKK from the EU’s list of terrorist organisations.

The Initiative brought together 1,003 signatories from 30 countries, including parliamentarians, academics, writers, and internationally respected public figures. Their joint declaration asserted that the ongoing proscription of the PKK undermines prospects for peace and contradicts Europe’s own legal and democratic standards.

The campaign’s goal—four million signatures worldwide—demonstrated not only the breadth of transnational support for a political solution but also the growing recognition that the Kurdish question is no longer a domestic Turkish issue, but a European and international human rights concern.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The events of 2025 have opened an unprecedented window of opportunity for peace in Turkey. The European Union welcomed this development on 12 May 2025, urging “all parties to seize the moment.” Yet, goodwill statements must now translate into practical, courageous measures.

Removing the PKK from the EU’s list of terrorist organisations is not a symbolic gesture; it is a strategic necessity for peace, democracy, and stability in the region. It would also reaffirm Europe’s moral and political consistency.

As the Kurdish Working Group in the European Parliament—led by Andreas Schieder, Leoluca Orlando, and Per Clausen—presses the European Commission to review the listing, it is vital that EU institutions act decisively. We recognise the work of the Kurdish Working Group as a valuable and constructive contribution to resolving one of Europe’s longest-standing conflicts.

We therefore extend our full support and call upon European policymakers, civil society, and citizens to do the same.

Why Delisting the PKK Serves Both Peace and European Interests

• A Historic Call for Peace: On 27 February 2025, PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan took a historic step, urging the movement to dissolve and pursue Kurdish aspirations through democratic channels.

• Formal Dissolution and Disarmament: On 12 May 2025, the PKK announced at its 12th Congress the end of its armed struggle. Two months later, on 11 July, Kurdish fighters symbolically burned their weapons in the presence of Kurdish, Turkish, and international observers—marking the transition from armed resistance to political participation.

• European Recognition: The EU and numerous European governments rightly hailed these steps as pivotal for peace and stability. Nearly half a century of unresolved conflict has generated displacement, authoritarian entrenchment, and cycles of violence that reverberate across Europe.

• Removing Barriers to Dialogue: The continued proscription of the PKK obstructs diplomatic engagement and provides cover for Turkey’s repression of peaceful Kurdish political expression. Lifting the ban would restore space for genuine dialogue and reconciliation.

• Advancing EU Principles and Stability: Supporting democratic resolution of the Kurdish question aligns directly with the EU’s own values and strategic interests—promoting human rights, democracy, and regional stability.

Since the PKK’s dissolution at its 12th Congress in May 2025, the EU’s biannual renewal of the listing has become anachronistic and politically untenable. The European Union now stands at a crossroads: it can either maintain a status quo rooted in outdated classifications, or act with foresight and integrity, thereby embracing the new era of dialogue, peace, and democracy unfolding in Turkey and Kurdistan. 

Please also see the appeal by the Kurdish Working Group in the European Parliament: Letter from Kurdish Working Group in European Parliament