Brussels, 22/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday evening 21 April, the EP foreign affairs committee adopted the report of Ria Oomen Ruijten (EEP-ED, Netherlands) on the European Commission's 2007 progress report. It will be debated and voted on in a plenary session at the end of May. For the most part, MEPs share the Commission's opinion, according to which, following the modest progress of 2006-07, the Turkish government should speed up the pace of reforms in 2008 to transform the country into a democratic and prosperous society, and subsequently move towards preparing for EU accession. MEPs consider that respect for commitments included in the accession partnership (the document in which the EU periodically sets out short and medium term priorities for Ankara to fulfil) is “essential”.
MEPs affirm that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms has to be the cornerstone of the reform. The report also states that “only a society which is guided by respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and which is based on democracy, the rule of law and a socially oriented market economy can develop into a peaceful, stable and prosperous society”. In this regard, the parliamentary committee is concerned about the implications of the recent request for banning the ruling AKP, and expects the Turkish Constitutional Court to “respect the principles of the rule of law, European standards and the Venice Commission guidelines on the prohibition of political parties”. Still on the subject of fundamental freedoms, MEPs are urging the Turkish government and parliament to rapidly proceed to a deep-seated reform of Article 301 of the penal code in a way that will definitively prevent it from ever being used to arbitrarily restrict the freedom of expression. Members of the parliamentary committee believe that once Article 301 has been amended, other legislative measures and implementation will be necessary to ensure that Turkey fully guarantees the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms also has to figure at the “heart” of the new civil constitution, which is currently being drawn up. The high level of corruption in Turkey is also worrying MEPs and they are requesting that Ankara develops a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy.
In connection with the delicate relationship between the political and military powers, MEPs welcome the fact that during the serious crisis surrounding the 2007 presidential elections, “democracy prevailed over attempts by the military to interfere in the political process. MEPs are also encouraging “the Turkish government to make further systematic efforts to ensure that the democratically elected political leadership bears full responsibility for formulation of domestic, foreign and security policy and that the armed forces respect this civilian responsibility”.
The Kurdish question was also raised in the report, which calls on the Turkish government to launch “a political initiative favouring a lasting settlement of the Kurdish issue” including a global plan for relaunching Turkey's social-economic and cultural development. Although the report considers that banning the DTP (Turkish Democratic Party, a pro-Kurdish grouping) is “counterproductive”, it also calls on the DTP and its elected members at Parliament and mayors to “distance themselves clearly from the PKK”. It also calls on the PKK to declare and respect an immediate cease-fire.
In the energy sector, Turkey is expected to become a full member of the European Energy Community and give total support to the Nabucco pipeline project, which MEPs consider as a priority European project. In the area of JHA, the report instructs the Commission and Turkish government to organise negotiations on an EU/Turkey visa facilitation agreement.
In the context of accession negotiations, the report would only point out that as long as Ankara refuses to apply the additional protocol on the extension of the EU/Turkey Customs Union to Cyprus, this affair will “continue to seriously affect the process of negotiations”. (HB.)