The European Commission\u2019s latest annual report on Turkey\u2019s progress toward EU membership made one thing very clear: Turkey is not doing enough to improve its human rights record.<\/p>\n
Turkey has been focusing its energy on developing a dynamic foreign policy and promoting its\u00a0 impressive economic growth.\u00a0 The EU, for its part, has shown calculated indifference to Turkey\u2019s progress. But its attitude has little to do with rights abuse and everything to do with the political impasse over Cyprus and open hostility from Germany and France to Turkey ever becoming an EU member.<\/p>\n
The commission, in the report released last week, did seek out signs of progress \u2013 notably the package of constitutional amendments approved in the September 12 referendum. But the report generally followed up acknowledgement of any progress on human rights with the proviso that reforms made had been \u201cof limited scope\u201d. The commission also noted what it characterized as the \u201cconfrontational political climate\u201d in Turkey and the slowdown in its reform agenda over several years.<\/p>\n
Mostly the report offered a sombre reflection on all the areas where progress was lacking and on worrying trends.\u00a0 Among these were the huge number of prosecutions of journalists;\u00a0 disproportionate use of force by the police and their lack of accountability, given the huge backlog of ongoing judicial proceedings and\u00a0 lengthy pre-trial detention and the fact that over half Turkey\u2019s prison population are remand prisoners–including children.\u00a0 The report also highlighted the \u201cmajor challenges\u201d of gender equality and combating violence against women, and the government\u2019s \u201crestrictive\u201d approach to minority rights issues, including lack of progress in solving the Kurdish issue, and widespread use of anti-terror laws against Kurds.<\/p>\n
At the news conference to release\u00a0 the report, the European commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood policy, \u0160tefan F\u00fcle, expressed the concern that Turkey\u2019s accession process was \u201closing its momentum\u201d, and laid the blame on Turkey.<\/p>\n
But if Turkey has been losing its momentum, so too has the EU. The EU member states that reneged on the commitment to keep Turkey on an accession track by repeatedly expressing their hostility to Turkey\u2019s possible EU membership must also bear responsibility for Turkey\u2019s coolness to being told to improve its record.\u00a0 And both sides have found it convenient to hide behind the Cyprus issue, which continues to stall negotiations across a range of areas needed for EU membership.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, in one interview, expressed frustration that in the face of its economic and foreign policy achievements Turkey had been kept waiting at the EU\u2019s door for so many years. In another he sent the message that the EU had more to gain from Turkey than Turkey did itself. President Abdullah G\u00fcl too indicated that the EU just hadn\u2019t offered Turkey enough.<\/p>\n
Their comments underscore an oscillation between feeling slighted by the EU and feeling incredulous at their sense that\u00a0 the EU has failed to understand Turkey\u2019s growing importance as a significant foreign policy actor, respected by its neighbours west and east.<\/p>\n
So, what is the way forward?<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s aim to be a constructive foreign policy actor would be greatly reinforced by bold\u00a0\u00a0 domestic reform, to strengthen and uphold the human rights of all its citizens, to solve the Kurdish issue, and to create a tolerant and rights-respecting society. Such moves on the domestic front can only increase Turkey\u2019s credibility on the international stage over the long term, and the citizens of Turkey deserve no less.<\/p>\n
Hostile EU member states should for their part reassert a commitment to the accession negotiations.\u00a0 History has repeatedly shown that the real prospect of EU membership has transformative power.<\/p>\n
Some in the EU understand what is at stake. Commissioner F\u00fcle noted last week: \u201cBy acting together, the EU and Turkey can strengthen energy security, address regional conflicts, and prevent cleavages developing along ethnic or religious lines.\u201d<\/p>\n
F\u00fcle’s remarks are a reminder that a Turkey that respects human rights and the rule of law is in everyone’s interest. To continue with the reforms, to provide just implementation of those reforms in line with the Copenhagen political criteria and to remain committed to the accession process remains the best way to secure that outcome.<\/p>\n
Emma Sinclair-Webb is researcher on Turkey for Human Rights Watch<\/p>\n
via Ignoring Rights in Turkey, and Its Cost to Everyone – New Europe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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