On 6 October, on the basis of the same thorough analyses of the reforms in Turkey, the European Commission and conservative politicians in Europe came to two totally contradictory conclusions.
Whereas the Commission concluded that time is ripe to start negotiations with Turkey under strict conditions, Mr. Pöttering (who is currently negotiating for Prime Minister Erdogan's AK party to become a member of the EPP) and others argue it is “too early”. Their apparent concern: the Human Rights situation. Simultaneously, Human Rights Watch and Turkish Human Rights organisations are declared supporters of entry talks. Are they betraying their own cause? Certainly not. Starting negotiations in view of full membership is the best guarantee for Human Rights and sustained reform in Turkey.
“In principle, Turkey can become an EU-member, but it has to fulfil the political criteria” used to be the magic formula. After the Turkish government had presented package after package of significant reforms, it became urgent to precise those criteria. Politicians who had formerly argued against the principle of admitting a country with a large majority of Muslims in a Union “based on Christian tradition” recycled into Europe’s fiercest Human Rights defenders. Now they request “one hundred percent observance of the Human Rights criteria”. The problem is: can we demand this of any candidate country while at the same time the current Member States regularly fail to do so and have infringement procedures running against them? Future Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn put it this way: “before we start negotiations, the critical mass should be reached.” In the case of Turkey, that mass has been reached. Thinks the Commission, think Human Rights groups. Only conservative politicians seem to draw a different conclusion.
Turkey, as Human Rights Watch puts it, has arrived at a crossroads in its history. It can continue on the path towards a European modelled democratic state respecting Human Rights and the rule of law. But the pace of reforms can also stagnate, namely when the EU slams the door in Turkey’s face. Nationalist forces may regain power, comporting the risk of the army re-tightening its grip on state affairs, of intolerance towards minorities growing and of reappearance of systematic torture and ill-treatment of detainees. Not really something to look forward to for those sincerely dedicated to respect of Human Rights.
A silent revolution is taking place in Ankara. The army’s role in politics has been significantly reduced and the State Security Courts have been abolished. The authorities react much less virulently at expressions of Kurdish culture. Parliament adopted legislation to severely punish honorary killings. Still, Turkey has not suddenly turned into the Valhalla of Human Rights. There is a lot left to be done, as the European Commission very correctly concludes. The EU should continue exercising pressure on the Turkish government in the run up to the actual start of negotiations - and beyond. A number of concrete problems can and must be dealt with during the months to come. The absolute priority has the eradication of all persisting forms of torture and ill-treatment, by controlling if police and army all over the country respect the law.
Furthermore, Turkey should urgently work on a solution for the question of the internally displaced Kurds living currently in the slums of the big cities. They are Turkish Kurds from the countryside in South-East Anatolia, driven from their village by the Turkish army in the Nineties, during the heavy fighting between the PKK and the army. The Turkish government should also do everything to ensure absolute freedom of expression. It is intolerable that in a country negotiating EU-membership there are still people in prison for having made a remark on a statesman who died decades ago. Finally, freedom of association and assembly has to be guaranteed.
If Turkey continues on the reform path it has taken, and if the Commission continues to closely follow and monitor the developments with the possibility to use an emergency break, accession negotiations are the best guarantee one could wish for respect of Human Rights.