Brussels is particularly concerned about Turkey’s continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law. The recommendations made by the Commission a year ago have been ignored by Ankara, according to the report.
“The EU’s grave concerns about the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary have not been met,” the Commission said. ‘There was further decline in many areas.’
For the first time in all these years, Brussels also states that Ankara no longer seriously intends to implement EU-backed reforms, even though President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in April that his country is still committed to a full EU-backed reform. membership. After some serious clashes last year with several European countries, in particular France and Greece, Turkey seems to have been striving to improve relations since the beginning of this year.
Two sizes
According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the report shows the ‘double standard’ by the EU. The ministry rejects the “unreasonable criticism and unfounded claims” in the progress report. The Union would not have kept its promises.
“Turkey is holding on to its choice of full EU membership in the strongest possible way,” the ministry said. “It would be in everyone’s interest if the EU sees Turkey as a negotiating candidate, given our common interests,” not as a partner to do business with every day.
When Turkey and Brussels started the accession process in 2005, the Turkish government under then Prime Minister Erdogan was busy reforming the legislation and economic regulations in a European way. Turkey also made great progress in the field of human rights.
coup d’état
In later years, Turkey’s drive for reform faltered and Erdogan increasingly emerged as an authoritarian leader. Especially after the failed coup of 2016, Europe and Ankara drifted further and further apart. In the eyes of Brussels, the Turkish government reacted excessively to the coup attempt.
In addition, various conflicts between Ankara and Europe remain unresolved. For example, EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to prepare new sanctions against Turkey in response to Turkish interference in Cyprus.
In late September, the Turkish navy sent a Greek Cypriot research vessel out of the part of the Mediterranean that Turkey considers its continental shelf. Also in July, at the instigation of Ankara, the once popular resort of Varosha in Turkish Northern Cyprus was reopened to the public. After the Turkish invasion of the island, the place where the Greek Cypriot inhabitants had fled was closed by order of the UN.
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