The EU accuses Turkey of “regressing” in reforms to join the EU | EU News

Ankara criticized the European Commission’s report based on “unfair criticism and unfounded claims”.

The EU executive agency stated in its annual report that due to serious lack of democracy, Turkey’s efforts to join the EU “have stalled”, and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the report for making “baseless claims”.

The European Commission said in a report released on Tuesday that the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has overseen the continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law and ignored the EU’s recommendations last year.

The report also showed for the first time that, although Erdogan recommitted in April to achieve the goal of becoming a full member of the European Union, because both sides tried to improve relations, Ankara no longer takes the reforms supported by the European Union seriously.

“The EU’s serious concerns about the continued deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and judicial independence have not been resolved. There has been further regression in many areas,” the committee said.

“Under the current circumstances, Turkey’s accession negotiations have actually come to a standstill,” it said.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the report showed the EU’s “double standard approach” and refuted “unfair criticism and baseless claims”. It accused the group of failing to fulfil its promises to Turkey and failing to fulfill its responsibilities.

The ministry said in a statement: “Turkey maintains its strategic choice of becoming a member of the European Union in the strongest way.”

“If the EU takes into account our common overall interests and regards Turkey as a candidate country under negotiation, rather than a partner with which it establishes a mutual concession every day, it will be in everyone’s interest.”

Since Erdogan’s tough response to the attempted coup in July 2016, the EU and Turkey’s paths have seen a huge divergence [File: Reuters]

As a NATO ally, Turkey has been negotiating its EU membership since 2005 after its economic and political reforms have made it an important emerging market economy and trading partner.

But since Erdogan’s tough response to the attempted coup in July 2016, although diplomatic relations have improved since the beginning of 2021, there has been a huge divergence in the path of the EU and Turkey.

The report stated that the opposition purges launched in mid-2016 continued, and pointed out that “extensive restrictions have been imposed on the activities of journalists, writers, lawyers, academics, human rights defenders, and critics”.

Ankara said that given the serious threats facing Turkey, which borders Iraq and Syria, its security measures are necessary.

Erdogan began to increase presidential powers in 2017. The European Union said that its lack of adequate democratic checks and his stronger foreign policy have also caused serious tensions.

In its 2021 report, the committee questioned Turkey’s “ability to undertake membership obligations” and stated that Ankara was carrying out reforms in areas ranging from the economy to the rule of law “on a fairly temporary basis”.

It is up to the 27 member states of the European Union, not the committee, to decide whether or not Turkey should be formally disqualified from being a member of the European Union. Many people believe that they should build on a deeper trade relationship and push Turkey to establish a different and looser relationship.