On Thursday 25 March, EU leaders expressed the EU’s readiness to engage with Turkey in a “phased, proportionate and reversible” manner.
“We believe that standing still is not the answer, but that we need contacts with Turkey at all levels and to talk about the controversy, but also about the common interest”, German Chancellor Angela Merkel summarised after the videoconference.
Provided, in particular, that the current calm in the Eastern Mediterranean continues, the EU is ready to engage in enhanced cooperation with Turkey in a number of areas of common interest.
The leaders opted for a two-step approach: a mandate now to further develop the relationship and the possibility in June to adopt more formal decisions, depending on the situation in the Mediterranean.
In their declaration, EU leaders therefore invite the European Commission to intensify talks with Turkey to address current difficulties in the implementation of the Customs Union. And they invite, in parallel, the EU Council to work on a mandate for the modernisation of this Customs Union. “Such a mandate may be adopted by the Council subject to additional guidance by the European Council”, they warn.
The Commission is also invited to explore how to strengthen cooperation with Turkey on interpersonal contacts and mobility. The modernisation of the Customs Union and visa liberalisation are two of Turkey’s long-standing demands.
The European Council is also ready to launch high-level dialogues with Ankara on issues of mutual concern, such as public health, climate and counter-terrorism as well as regional issues. On this last point, Turkey must make a positive contribution to the resolution of regional crises such as Libya, Syria and the South Caucasus, the European Council warns.
Calling for continued EU support for Syrian refugees and host communities, the leaders urge the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a financial framework for continued funding for Syrian refugees in Turkey, but also in Jordan and Lebanon.
According to the EU27, cooperation with Ankara on migration management should be strengthened, notably in areas such as border protection, combatting illegal migration, as well as the return of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers to Turkey, in accordance with the EU-Turkey Statement of 2016, applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
Concern about the rule of law
Furthermore, while the situation in the Mediterranean is improving, the situation regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights continues to deteriorate in Turkey and remains “a key concern”, say the leaders.
“The targeting of political parties and media and other recent decisions represent major setbacks for human rights and run counter to Turkey’s obligations to respect democracy, the rule of law and women’s rights”, they say, convinced that dialogue on these issues remains an integral part of bilateral relations.
For Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention (see EUROPE 12683/26) and the government’s attempt to ban the opposition HDP party (see EUROPE 12681/22) are “very problematic”.
The leaders also warn that in the event of “renewed provocations or unilateral actions in violation of international law”, the EU will be determined to use the instruments and options at its disposal to defend its interests and those of its Member States, as well as to uphold regional stability. In this regard, they cite the Joint Communication from the High Representative, Josep Borrell, and the Commission, which proposes different types of sanctions, including economic ones (see EUROPE 12683/2).
“If Turkey resumes these actions, we will of course suspend the cooperation measures”, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had already warned. The latter could visit Turkey, “probably in April”, with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
See the EU27 statement: https://bit.ly/2NT8PyB (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant, with the editorial staff)