The European Commission depicted Turkey as far from fulfilling the conditions for EU membership in its 2020 progress report (see separate news item) on Tuesday 6 October.
Thus, in its 126-page report, the Commission considers that, despite the lifting of the state of emergency in June 2018, “the negative effects of the emergency decision, which lasted two years, continued to have a significant impact on democracy and fundamental rights”.
The Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, denounced “serious setbacks in democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary” (see EUROPE 12548/16).
There are many European concerns, including a lack of a “sound and effective” separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, including the increased politicisation of public administration.
Turkey also needs to take steps to improve the general environment for elections.
The Commission also denounces the constant pressure on civil society, which sees its space of freedom continuing to diminish. “Freedom of expression has continued to decline seriously”, she said.
In addition, the situation in the south-east of the country remains a matter of serious concern (see EUROPE 12489/21), despite the improvement in the security situation. Measures against terrorism must be proportionate and respect the rule of law and human rights, the Commission adds.
Turkey also remains at an early stage in the fight against widespread corruption and there has been limited progress in the fight against organised crime.
The report returns to Turkey’s foreign policy, which increasingly clashes with the EU’s priorities, citing increased tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean with Greece and Cyprus and its attitude towards Libya and Syria.
Finally, while the economy is well advanced, it has not progressed in the past year and there are still serious concerns about its functioning. In addition, Turkey is meeting its Customs Union obligations less and less.
See the report: https://bit.ly/34rJSic (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)