Brussels, 18/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Turkey, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle again called on Turkey to progress with its reforms and on the Cypriot issue. “Your strong commitment to further reforms is indispensable”, he said at the start of a meeting of the working group on Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) of the negotiations.
Füle stated that Turkey must commit to pursuing the relevant reforms and that the future of Turkey's EU accession process will not be determined by the results of the European elections but will be determined by Turkey's own performance. After the European elections, Ankara expressed concern about the rise of extremist parties. Füle stated that over recent months doubts have been raised as to Turkey's commitment to European values and standards - implying, for example, the management of the corruption affair (see EUROPE 10990) or the blocking of YouTube and Twitter (see EUROPE 11049).
“The accession negotiations are the central engine of our relations. But they can only move forward in parallel with convincing progress on the political reforms and on all the issues linked to Cyprus. All setbacks on these two issues will increase doubts as to Turkey's commitment to the EU”, Füle stated. He therefore encouraged the Turks “to commit decisively with the EU on a complete and credible reform process and to follow a close dialogue with the Commission in the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights” and also to support the efforts for an overall settlement on Cyprus (our translation). Chapter 23 is currently blocked unilaterally by the Republic of Cyprus.
Füle stressed the need for trust in the judicial system and for an end to be brought to the polarisation and politicisation of society. It is important to ensure wide consultation with civil society on legislation of public interest, he also said.
During his visit, Füle met Tukey's President Abdullah Gül, President of the Constitutional Court Hasim Kilic, Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister for European Integration Mevlut Cavusolgu, and Minister for Justice Bekir Bozdag. (CG)