Brussels, 06/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 3 January, the Turkish government published its own progress report on its European outlook, stressing the “important achievements” in 2013, “despite the difficulties met”. Relations between the EU and Turkey remain tense. “A careful examination of this report (…) reveals that, despite all the shortfalls, the accession process has provided great benefits for Turkey”, said Turkey's new foreign affairs minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu. In its report, “which must not be seen as a reaction” to that of the European Commission, the government underlines that the report drawn up by the Commission (see EUROPE 10944) “with an objective and constructive mindset in comparison to earlier reports”, and which was published in October, “ensured a more favourable atmosphere in EU-Turkey relations”. This Commission report recognised “not only the political reforms, but also the economic success of Turkey despite the world crisis, in collaboration with our progress in alignment with the acquis communautaire”, the Turkish report adds.
Ankara reiterates that “accession to the EU continues to be a strategic preference for Turkey. The rapid development of global dynamics makes EU-Turkey integration increasingly important and essential. It is clear that Turkey will play a key role in a better future, more sure and more stable from the EU”. It is a historical fact that EU accession will provide many political, economic, social and geostrategic advantages for Turkey, adds the report. It states that Turkey is currently undergoing a process of socio-economic transformation with the contribution of reforms linked to accession.
Turkey notes that 2013, the year of the 50th anniversary of the Ankara agreement, is “a period during which the reformist character of Turkey became more important and during which important developments took place in EU-Turkey relations”. Turkey highlights the opening of the chapter on regional policy on 5 November, high-level dialogue meetings on strategic sectors, such as energy and transport, and the strengthening of cooperation mechanisms in various areas. “There is no doubt that the most important development was the major step taken that paves the way to a Europe without visas”, Cavusoglu adds. The dialogue on visa liberalisation began officially on 16 December.
Recalling that the number of negotiating chapters opened is 14 and that 16 are blocked, the Turkish government says that, “although eight years have passed since the beginning of the negotiations and although Turkey has resolutely implemented the necessary reforms, the process is not unfortunately at a satisfactory stage due to political blockages posed by some member states. However, Turkey continues to pursue the reform process despite the difficulties with the negotiations”. The government calls on the EU to lift the blockages on the chapters on judicial power and fundamental rights (chapter 23) and on freedom, security and justice (24). “The EU should lift the current blockages that contradict the fundamental values of the EU in the political criteria, chapters 23 and 24, which constitute the backbone of Turkey's accession process”, states the report. It underlines that “significant progress was achieved in 2013” in the political criteria and on these chapters.
Relations still tense. Although the impression given by the report seems positive, relations between Turkey and the EU remain tense. On 27 December, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle urged Turkey “to take all the necessary measures to take all the necessary measures to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are addressed without discrimination or preference in a transparent and impartial manner”. “In recent days, the change introduced to the judicial police regulation has undermined the independence of the judiciary and its capacity to act. The application of this regulation has (…) been suspended by the Council of State. I welcome this suspension and hope the Council's decision will be quickly finalised”, he added. Dozens of high-level police officers resigned from their job on government orders in the days that followed the initial questioning of people close to the government on accusations of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, and also the Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP, Netherlands), have also expressed concern about the situation.
On 29 December, the Turkish minister, responded by inviting “our European friends to avoid bias and maintain equanimity when commenting on domestic developments in Turkey which also have political dimensions. There should be no doubts that Turkey will overcome this challenging process through the guidance of democracy and the fundamental principles of law”. (CG/transl.fl)