On Friday 2 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn issued reservations as to the independence of the judiciary in Turkey.
"The reversal of the court decision to release Amnesty International Turkey Chair Taner Kılıҫ (see EUROPE 11952) and the detention of the members of the Executive Committee of the Turkish Medical Association are the latest examples of the worrying developments undermining the rule of law and independence and impartiality of the judiciary in Turkey", they stated in a joint press release.
They also highlighted the case of journalists Sahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, who continue in detention despite the decision of the Constitutional Court on 11 January to release them. According to Mogherini and Hahn, the EU expects the Turkish authorities to ensure that the Constitutional Court decision is implemented and that the journalists are released "without delay".
"The non-implementation of judgements (...) in addition to the undermining of the rule of law, risks setting an unfortunate precedent as it casts serious doubts about the existence of effective legal remedy", they warned.
Mogherini and Hahn stated that "concrete and lasting improvements in the area of rule of law and fundamental freedoms" remain "essential" to the prospects of EU-Turkey relations. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)