For the first time in 4 years, the EU-Turkey Association Council met on Friday 15 March in Brussels. Once again, the two sides reiterated the importance of relations and cooperation in areas of common interest, but above all expressed their differences.
“Dialogue does not mean dialogue without criticism”, summed up the Commissioner for Accession Negotiations, Johannes Hahn. “Even if there are differences, at least we are discussing them, I think we need to continue this dialogue”, added Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, discussed at length the human rights situation and the rule of law in Turkey. Issued in the margins of the EU Council, the EU communiqué reiterates its concern of the above “due to the persistent and deeply worrying decline in the fields of fundamental rights and the rule of law and the deterioration of the independence and functioning of the judiciary”, calling for the repeal of measures that have a negative impact in these areas. “The EU deplores the increasing pressure on civil society”, the statement added.
"Now that the state of emergency is behind us, we hope that the situation will improve", said Ms Mogherini. Mr Çavuşoğlu explained that the reform process had been revitalized since this lifting. If Turkey is willing to “pursue reforms on fundamental rights, the judiciary and the rule of law”, “the EU must guide us on the way”, he explained. The EU refuses to open accession negotiation chapters on these issues because of Ankara's attitude towards Cyprus. According to Mr Çavuşoğlu, the decline in pre-accession funds will not harm the Turkish economy, but will hinder the “smooth progress of reforms”. The remaining funds will be directed towards supporting reforms and civil society.
And if the EU is critical of its country, the Minister has not failed to do the same. “Beware of any interference with court decisions”, advised the Minister, warning against meddling. He denounced Islamophobia in Europe, “hate speech against Muslims that should not be seen as freedom of expression”. Nor did Mr Çavuşoğlu mince his words on the European Parliament's latest resolution, which calls for the official suspension of accession negotiations (see EUROPE 12213/3). He described it as “unacceptable”, adding that it “falls under the control of extremist movements and their ideology”.
As usual, the Turkish Minister called for compliance with the March 2016 declaration, including the modernisation of the Customs Union and visa liberalisation. According to the head of Turkish diplomacy, his country still has six criteria to meet in order to benefit from visa liberalisation. “We hope that the negotiations will be concluded very soon”, he explained, while Mr. Hahn said that “very soon” was a “stretchy” concept.
While the Turkish Minister recalled his country's action against the PKK, PYD and YPG and FETO, which he described as terrorist organisations, Ms Mogherini underlined the cooperation between the EU and Turkey in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with the rule of law, human rights and international law.
Mr Hahn hoped that a high-level energy dialogue could soon be launched, in particular to discuss oil drilling, while the EU was critical of Turkey's attitude towards the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to Mr Çavuşoğlu, his country is working with the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU on a summit between the EU and Turkey. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)