Brussels, 28/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - Turkey is back on the agenda of the European Parliament, which is currently preparing its response to the European Commission's 2008 progress report presented on 5 November (EUROPE 9776). Next Tuesday, 2 December, the EP committee on foreign affairs will discuss a highly critical report by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED, NL), which sheds light on several “worrying” developments in Turkey. First of all, there is the fact that “for the third consecutive year, a continuous slowdown of the reform process has been seen”. There is also concern about the “polarisation” between the main political parties and players in Turkish society, a polarisation that was strengthened in 2008 and which “negatively affected the function of the political institutions and the process of reforms”. But Ms Oomen-Ruijten's criticism does not end there. The Turkish government has not adopted any “comprehensive programme of political reforms” and “no progress has been made on establishing full systematic civilian supervisory functions and parliamentary oversight over the military and defence policy”, she said. The rapporteur also bemoans the fact that the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression are still not fully protected in Turkey (amendment of Article 301 of the penal code, adopted in April 2008, is considered “insufficient”) and that the Turkish government still has no anti-corruption strategy. Ms Oomen-Ruijten's draft report also criticises the “continuing hostility and violence against minorities” and notes that no progress has been made with a view to ensuring “cultural diversity” and the respect and protection of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities in line with the European Convention on Human Rights. Furthermore, Ankara has made “no progress” towards amending the legislation on the rights of trade unions, the report goes on to say.
There are also a few (rare) encouraging and positive comments in the text proposed by the EP rapporteur on Turkey. Progress on reform of the judicial sector is praised as well as that on protection of women's rights and non-Muslim foundations, health policy and the fight against torture and ill-treatment in prisons. At the economic level, the rapporteur welcomes the fact that, although growth slowed down in 2008, “the foundations and resilience of the Turkish economy are substantially stronger than some years ago”. The report also welcomes the fact that the Turkish government has announced the broad lines of a socio-economic development plan for the south-east of the country, but Ankara is invited to rapidly launch a political initiative with a view to providing a “lasting solution” to the Kurdish problem. The international role played by Turkey is considered very positive, especially in the region of the Caucasus (war in Georgia, renewed contacts with Armenia) and the Middle East. (H.B./transl.jl)