On Wednesday 29 November, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, presented their report on the state of relations between the EU and Turkey, calling for the development of a mutually beneficial partnership (see EUROPE 13293/20).
Pointing out that the international context had changed since the last report published in March 2021 (see EUROPE 12683/2), the High Representative felt that this had “an impact on [...] relations with Turkey”. “We are genuinely interested in developing a mutually beneficial partnership”, he added. Mr Borrell felt that he had seen a more constructive attitude from Turkey since the last assessment of relations in 2021, although difficulties remain, such as Ankara’s position on the Cyprus question or on certain foreign policy issues. The report also highlights the “grave domestic human rights and rule of law situation”.
The 18-page document puts forward a “number of possible options for engagement with Turkey in a progressive, proportionate and reversible manner”, explained Mr Borrell.
In particular, the Commission and the High Representative are calling for the resumption of Association Council meetings and high-level political dialogue at ministerial level.
They propose resuming the high-level dialogues on energy, the economy and transport, suspended in 2019, “provided that Turkey continues to refrain from any illegal drilling activity in the Eastern Mediterranean and from any other action that does not respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of EU Member States”.
The creation of a new high-level dialogue on trade “with the aim to tackle the remaining bilateral trade irritants and discuss further areas of cooperation” is also mentioned. Turkey is the EU’s seventh largest trading partner, and the EU is Turkey’s largest. The report promotes the resumption of discussions on the draft negotiating framework for the modernisation of the EU-Turkey customs union, “on the understanding that Turkey keeps addressing the circumvention of EU restrictive measures against Russia via its territory rapidly and efficiently and continues to resolve trade irritants”. The Commission and the High Representative also want to stimulate public and private investment in Turkey.
More effective and mutually beneficial implementation of the key areas of the 2016 EU-Turkey Declaration, including migration management, is needed, says the report, which highlights the need to step up Turkey’s efforts to stem irregular migration flows to the EU and the engagement of the EU and Member States with Turkey as part of a ‘Team Europe’ approach. As part of its continuing support for refugees and host communities in Turkey, the Commission has proposed €4 billion in the mid-term review of the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
Finally, the Commission and the High Representative want to work on visa facilitation.
The report, requested by European leaders in June, will be presented to them at their summit in mid-December.
To see the report, go to https://aeur.eu/f/9ui (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)