H προσέγγιση της Τουρκίας στις ενταξιακές διαπραγματεύσεις της.

Ο επικεφαλής της Κοινοβουλευτικής Ομάδας της ΝΔ στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο Μανώλης Κεφαλογιάννης μιλά για την ένταξη τη Τουρκίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση:
«Η Τουρκία είναι υποψήφια χώρα για ένταξη στην ΕΕ και οποιαδήποτε κίνηση προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση εξαρτάται από τον πλήρη σεβασμό των ευρωπαϊκών δημοκρατικών αξιών, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του κράτους δικαίου και των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων, όπως η ελευθερία της έκφρασης και της ελευθερίας των μέσων ενημέρωσης.»

GREECE | ATHENS : Recent developments in Turkey, particularly the crackdown on opposition media, sparked concern in Europe over the country’s respect of democratic principles. The EU’s reaction was immediate. In a joint press statement, High Representative for Foreign Affairs FedericaMogherini and Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, underlined that the police raids and arrests of journalists and media representatives in Turkey are “incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy.” The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz also expressed his deep concern. For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the EU criticism.  

Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership and any move towards this direction is depended on full respect for European democratic values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights, such as the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media. What is Turkey’s position with regards to its accession process? How much emphasis does the country place on democratic values? Examining one of Turkey’s strategic documents, the so-called “European Union Strategy” is critical in answering these questions. 

The recently published document marks a new approach in the country’s accession negotiations. More specifically, in the past the stance maintained by the former Turkish Chief Negotiator Mr Bagis on the negotiation process was not constructive as it insisted in overlooking decisive delays, shortcomings and weaknesses in Turkey’s efforts to fulfill its obligations under the EU Treaties, starting with the political criteria. The very fact that Turkey used to issue its own Annual Progress Report, in response to the European Commission’s Annual Report epitomised its approach to negotiations and its disregard for the established accession procedures. It was clear that Mr Bagis aimed to promote the idea that Turkey must be treated in a different, privileged way, if compared to other candidate countries. The new Turkish European Security Strategy, which constitutes one of the first samples of the approach of the new Turkish Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr Bozkir regarding the accession negotiations of Turkey, seems more productive.

The fact that the paper stresses the importance of the accession process as an incentive to successfully promote reforms in Turkey that are much needed is very positive. It is also important to highlight such a crucial aspect of the EU’s enlargement strategy to sustain the effort for pending reforms that are absolutely necessary, if Turkey is to achieve significant progress in its accession process. The references to the progress achieved so far in Turkey, in adjusting the Turkish legislation to EU standards are equally important. 

Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership and any move towards this direction is depended on full respect for European democratic values

However, while going through the document, one gets very puzzled by the fundamental idea which seems to prevail throughout the paper: its starting point is that the recent economic crisis in the EU hampered a more sustained progress of Turkey’s accession negotiations; consequently, it is essentially the EU’s fault that the process has not moved significantly forward. The paper goes on to stress Turkey’s importance as an influential regional and global power which will contribute to a EU “aware of its interests”. I am afraid that this approach in a paper concerning the accession process seems to be in line with repeatedly expressed old notions and ambitions that Turkey’s accession would “reinvigorate” an exhausted and aging Europe.

What is particularly alarming is that the paper effectively overlooks a fundamental principle of the accession process for any candidate or aspiring country, that is the progress achieved vis-à-vis the Copenhagen criteria, starting with the political criteria. The paper chooses to ignore a long and well known list of obligations and criteria that Turkey has to fulfill and comply with. Full compliance with political criteria is presented as more or less achieved already before the start of the negotiations. 

Even more worrisome is the fact that in the paper the Turkish side chooses to overlook once more a capital obligation which it has failed to fulfil, that is the implementation of the Additional Protocol and the normalisation of its relations with the Republic of Cyprus. In this particular issue, we have even witnessed a severe regression in the past months: In its written position, after last June’s Association Council, the Turkish side used a rather inappropriate language, qualifying the Republic of Cyprus as defunct; other recent statements by the Turkish leadership, including by President Erdogan after his election, are equally provocative and challenging the very existence of an EU Member State. This is an issue that a credible strategy aiming to boost the accession process has to address.  

Turkey is indeed an important partner for the EU and certainly the most important candidate country at this moment. It is equally an important regional player, whose actions and choices can have significant implications, as demonstrated by the events in Syria and Iraq. 

What Ankara cannot neglect though is that the EU constitutes Turkey’s most strategic partner and an anchor of stability. As a candidate country, Turkey is obliged to align with EU’s position, and unfortunately, according to the latest data, Turkey’s overall alignment with EU positions has progressively decreased since 2007 to 46%. 

The recent police raids and massive arrest of journalists and media representatives in the country cannot but be of great concern. They constitute a serious attack against one of the core values of liberal democracies and they violate a fundamental precondition for EU membership:the freedom of media and the freedom of expression. Actions like these are definitely not in line with Turkey’s aspirations to join the EU. It is up to Turkey's leadership to decide if it genuinely wants to pursue EU integration, and if so, to take actions that will lead the country closer, to, not farer from, the EU.

Πηγή: NEWEUROPE.BE