Reports by the European Parliament (EP) that decry a lack of progress on Turkey’s human rights are hardly a novelty since the European Union’s only directly elected body undertook the task of penning annual “progress reports" on Turkey in the 1990s. Neither are Ankara’s claims that the report is biased and unfair, the “toughest report ever." Yet this year's report, penned by Spanish Socialist Nacho Sanchez Amor, has ventured where no EP report has gone before: It suggested putting Turkey’s Grey Wolves, an ultra-right group linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the government's alliance partner, on the EU terror list.

The parliament called on the European Council, the decision-making body of the union, and the member states to “examine the possibility of adding Grey Wolves to the EU terrorist list.” The list includes four groups from Turkey: the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), the Sunni Salafist Great Islamic Eastern Warriors (IBDA-C) and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Army/Front/Party (DHKP-C).

The move comes at a time when several EU countries are trying to increase scrutiny on the movement that they consider part of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s power abroad and marks the first time that an EU institution has linked the Grey Wolves to terrorism. Putting a person, entity or organization on the list means that its financial assets and funds can be frozen.

The EP urges a ban on the Grey Wolves associations and organizations in EU countries, close monitoring of their activities and measures to counter their influence. It is “especially threatening for people with a Kurdish, Armenian or Greek background and anyone they consider an opponent,” says the report, which passed with 480 votes in favor and 64 against at the plenary on May 19.