The
EU believes the independence of Turkey’s judiciary is under threat,
while Prime Minister Erdogan believes the West is conspiring against
him. After meeting with EU leaders in Brussels, many questions remain.
With
a relaxed attitude and a slight smile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan stood behind the Plexiglas lectern in the press room of
the European Council building in Brussels on Tuesday (21.01.2014). He
listened calmly to the critical remarks of his European dialogue
partners, letting the journalists’ questions roll off his back as he ran
his hand over his green tie.
Erdogan, who recently had to fire several government ministers linked to a corruption scandal, alsoreassigned hundreds of police officers and investigators that
were involved with the graft probe. This reprimand of the investigative
authorities was denounced by the European Union, which called it an
encroachment on the independence of the judiciary. Responding in
Brussels, Erdogan said that the independence of the judiciary should not
lead to an abuse of its powers.
“The
judiciary must not dominate the democracy,” said Erdogan. The prime
minister was far from admitting any mistake on his part, nor would he
make a promise to EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy that there
would be an improvement. But the two leaders had spoken “in friendship”
about everything, with both sides wanting to continue the EU accession
process for Turkey.
For
his part, Van Rompuy carefully urged the prime minister to comply with
the rules of the game. “Progress in accession negotiations and progress
in political reforms in Turkey are the two sides of the same coin,” he
said, stressing that as an EU candidate country, Turkey must respect
democratic principles including the separation of powers and the rule of
law.
“It’s
important not to backtrack on achievements and ensure the judiciary is
able to function without discrimination of preference, in a transparent
and impartial manner,” he said.
Van Rompuy (center) and Barroso (right) remained committed to Turkey’s EU membership
Dark forces at work?
Back
at home, Erdogan has spoken of a conspiracy against him and Turkey,
calling the uncovered corruption scandal in his government the work of
foreign powers. The US and Israel were identified as culprits, but also
named were the European Union and, especially, the Islamic Gülen
movement. Speaking in Brussels, Erdogan once again hinted at this
conspiracy theory.
“Turkey
is becoming stronger. Ten years ago we had an economic output of $230
billion. Today it’s over $800 billion (590 billion euros),” said
Erdogan, adding that Turkey was now the world’s 18th largest economic
power. “That may be uncomfortable to some people and groups, and could
lead to a negative attitude towards our country. Herman Van Rompuy and I
have openly discussed this issue and continue to do so.”
In November, the EU and Turkey opened a new, not particularly controversial chapter in the slow-running EU accession negotiations after
a three-year hiatus. A month later, a day before the corruption scandal
broke, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström began a dialogue
on visa-free travel for Turks in the EU after Turkey agreed to take back
its citizens who were staying illegally in the EU. This progress in the
EU-Turkey relationship came after the controversial events of the
summer, when Europe condemned the violence of the Turkish police against
demonstrators protesting in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.
Many questions, few answers
EU
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was clear on Tuesday that the
EU still wanted to pursue EU membership for Turkey, but said that
questions had to be asked. “It is precisely because of the importance of
our relations and because of their big further potential that we are
concerned, as many others in the European Union, about recent events in
Turkey,” he said. “I have today relayed European concerns to Prime
Minister Erdogan as an honest friend and partner, [asking] what exactly
is happening today in Turkey?”
Erdogan,
in Brussels for the first time in three years, did not answer the
question, only assuring the president that it was nice to be able “speak
our minds.” Van Rompuy was quick to say that the EU did not wish to
interfere in Turkey’s internal political affairs. “We cannot have an
analysis of the political situation. That is internal. That’s for Turkey
to make its own analysis. We have to deal with acts and legislative
texts. And that is what we’re monitoring and that’s what we’re giving
our opinion on,” he said.
Turkish citizens have increasingly protested against Erdogan’s leadership
German
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also expressed concern about
how Erdogan is trying to bring the judiciary and law enforcement
agencies under the control of the government. “In any case, there remain
many questions to which Europeans still have no answers,” he said.
“Let’s put it this way: the longer we wait for answers, the harder it
will be to continue talking about the subject which we thought we had
already dealt with: namely, the opening of new negotiating chapters.”
The
EU Commission and the Turkish government are currently discussing the
opening of two more negotiation chapters in the accession talks. But for
this to happen, a unanimous yes vote is necessary from all 28 member
states. After the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Steinmeier
said no one had yet suggested the suspension of accession talks.
Erdogan under pressure
The
relationship between EU leaders and the Turkish prime minister remained
cool in Brussels on Tuesday, with no movement on the question of Turkey
recognizing EU member state Cyprus. But both sides said they were
prepared to continue talks.
Elmar
Brok, the chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign
Affairs, had already expressed his skepticism of Erdogan’s leadership
and political style after the demonstrations in Istanbul in the summer.
“The longer Erdogan is in office, the more authoritarian he becomes, and
the less open he has become to opposition,” he said.
Erdogan
has been prime minister for nearly 11 years. His reforms led to Turkey
opening EU accession talks in 2005, after decades of waiting. This year,
the 59-year-old had hoped to be elected to the presidency, the crowning
achievement of his political career. But according to media reports,
opposition to Erdogan is growing, even in his own party.
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