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Sat, Feb 11 2012
EC report encourages political reforms in Turkey
Armenia's foreign minister Edouard Nalbandian, seated left, and Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu sign documents during the signing ceremony of a peace deal between the two countries in Zurich, October 10 2009.
Turkey has been given encouraging messages by the European Commission in the EU enlargement process report released on October 14 2009.
"Turkey has shown renewed political reform efforts. Progress with its accession negotiations hinges on this momentum, especially the consolidation of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. We welcome the recent consultations on an important Kurdish initiative which, I hope, will result in concrete actions for the rights of all Turks," European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said at the release of the report.
"I'm encouraged by the historic steps Turkey and Armenia have just taken towards normalising their relations. This process should now lead to full normalisation as soon as possible."
EU accession negotiations with Turkey began in October 2005 and had moved forward, the report said.
Eleven out of 33 negotiation chapters have been opened so far. One chapter has been provisionally closed, while opening benchmarks have been set as conditions for opening negotiations on 13 chapters.
The EC report said that Turkey continues "to sufficiently fulfil the political criteria" towards EU membership, and had made further progress in the past year, notably regarding reform of the judiciary, civil-military relations, and cultural rights.
On cultural rights, the EC said that the opening of a public TV channel broadcasting 24-hour in Kurdish nation-wide was a "very positive step forward".
Furthermore, the government has begun a process of broad consultation with political parties and civil society with a view to addressing comprehensively the Kurdish issue.
The EC said that the investigation of the alleged criminal network Ergenekon, which has led to serious criminal charges against military officers and nationalist circles, was "an opportunity for Turkey to strengthen the rule of law, provided that the due process of law is respected".
"As concerns EU-reforms and Turkey-EU relations overall, the government has given higher priority to preparations for accession, through the appointment of a full-time Chief Negotiator and the approval of the national programme for the adoption of the acquis," according to the EC.
However, the Commission said, "the lack of dialogue and spirit of compromise between political parties is detrimental to the pursuit of reforms, in particular in relation to the necessary constitutional reforms".
The EC wanted to see significant efforts in most areas related to the political criteria, "including for example freedom of expression and of the press (in this context, the disproportionate fine against the main press group raises concerns), freedom of religion, fight against torture and ill-treatment".
On economic criteria, the EC said that Turkey was a functioning market economy, and the economy, including the financial sector, had showed resilience despite the difficult international economic environment.
Turkey’s current account deficit had become less of a concern. Access to external finance remained open for both the public and private sectors. Privatisation advanced, albeit at a slower pace.
However, the EC said that the increase in public spending to address the economic crisis may bring negative consequences on macro-economic stability.
Economic reforms had slowed down and some structural reforms still needed to be undertaken. Anti-crisis measures could put fiscal sustainability at risk in the medium-term, the EC said, while noting that unemployment had increased sharply.
Elsewhere, the EC said that Turkey had "further improved its ability to take on the obligations of membership" regarding the EU’s legal order.
Turkey had made progress in aligning with the EU's legal order in a number of areas, in particular in Trans-European networks, energy and science and research.
The overall level of alignment was "advanced" in areas such as free movement of goods, intellectual property rights, enterprise and industrial policy, anti-trust policy, consumer and health protection, science and research, energy.
As regards energy, Turkey signed the Inter-governmental agreement on Nabucco and started formal negotiations for its accession to the Energy Community.
Turkey committed to re-launching formal negotiations on an EC-Turkey readmission agreement.
But, the EC said, |much alignment needs to be done, in particular on agriculture, fisheries, veterinary and phytosanitary policies, state aid, justice and home affairs, social policies".
"No progress can be reported on company law. Turkey's overall administrative capacities need to be improved."
The EC said that because of Turkey's non compliance with its obligation to implement fully the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, in December 2006 the EU had decided that eight negotiating chapters could not be opened and that no chapter could be provisionally closed until Turkey meets its obligation. Negotiations were allowed to continue on the other chapters .
"Turkey has continued to develop a positive role contributing to stabilisation in regions such as the South Caucasus and the Middle East. In this context, diplomatic efforts to normalise relations with Armenia have moved forward significantly," according to the EC.
"Turkey has shown renewed political reform efforts. Progress with its accession negotiations hinges on this momentum, especially the consolidation of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. We welcome the recent consultations on an important Kurdish initiative which, I hope, will result in concrete actions for the rights of all Turks," European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said at the release of the report.
"I'm encouraged by the historic steps Turkey and Armenia have just taken towards normalising their relations. This process should now lead to full normalisation as soon as possible."
EU accession negotiations with Turkey began in October 2005 and had moved forward, the report said.
Eleven out of 33 negotiation chapters have been opened so far. One chapter has been provisionally closed, while opening benchmarks have been set as conditions for opening negotiations on 13 chapters.
The EC report said that Turkey continues "to sufficiently fulfil the political criteria" towards EU membership, and had made further progress in the past year, notably regarding reform of the judiciary, civil-military relations, and cultural rights.
On cultural rights, the EC said that the opening of a public TV channel broadcasting 24-hour in Kurdish nation-wide was a "very positive step forward".
Furthermore, the government has begun a process of broad consultation with political parties and civil society with a view to addressing comprehensively the Kurdish issue.
The EC said that the investigation of the alleged criminal network Ergenekon, which has led to serious criminal charges against military officers and nationalist circles, was "an opportunity for Turkey to strengthen the rule of law, provided that the due process of law is respected".
"As concerns EU-reforms and Turkey-EU relations overall, the government has given higher priority to preparations for accession, through the appointment of a full-time Chief Negotiator and the approval of the national programme for the adoption of the acquis," according to the EC.
However, the Commission said, "the lack of dialogue and spirit of compromise between political parties is detrimental to the pursuit of reforms, in particular in relation to the necessary constitutional reforms".
The EC wanted to see significant efforts in most areas related to the political criteria, "including for example freedom of expression and of the press (in this context, the disproportionate fine against the main press group raises concerns), freedom of religion, fight against torture and ill-treatment".
On economic criteria, the EC said that Turkey was a functioning market economy, and the economy, including the financial sector, had showed resilience despite the difficult international economic environment.
Turkey’s current account deficit had become less of a concern. Access to external finance remained open for both the public and private sectors. Privatisation advanced, albeit at a slower pace.
However, the EC said that the increase in public spending to address the economic crisis may bring negative consequences on macro-economic stability.
Economic reforms had slowed down and some structural reforms still needed to be undertaken. Anti-crisis measures could put fiscal sustainability at risk in the medium-term, the EC said, while noting that unemployment had increased sharply.
Elsewhere, the EC said that Turkey had "further improved its ability to take on the obligations of membership" regarding the EU’s legal order.
Turkey had made progress in aligning with the EU's legal order in a number of areas, in particular in Trans-European networks, energy and science and research.
The overall level of alignment was "advanced" in areas such as free movement of goods, intellectual property rights, enterprise and industrial policy, anti-trust policy, consumer and health protection, science and research, energy.
As regards energy, Turkey signed the Inter-governmental agreement on Nabucco and started formal negotiations for its accession to the Energy Community.
Turkey committed to re-launching formal negotiations on an EC-Turkey readmission agreement.
But, the EC said, |much alignment needs to be done, in particular on agriculture, fisheries, veterinary and phytosanitary policies, state aid, justice and home affairs, social policies".
"No progress can be reported on company law. Turkey's overall administrative capacities need to be improved."
The EC said that because of Turkey's non compliance with its obligation to implement fully the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, in December 2006 the EU had decided that eight negotiating chapters could not be opened and that no chapter could be provisionally closed until Turkey meets its obligation. Negotiations were allowed to continue on the other chapters .
"Turkey has continued to develop a positive role contributing to stabilisation in regions such as the South Caucasus and the Middle East. In this context, diplomatic efforts to normalise relations with Armenia have moved forward significantly," according to the EC.
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Turkey is not welcome in EU. What Oli Rehn did is to let hope, in case they decide to solve the Cyprus problem. But the EU saw any progress made since 2004 from turkey's part regarding this question, so they are in a cold situation there. So I don't see how Turkey would do concessions for the Cyprus issue without any guarantee to become an EU member...