IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu made statements on the European Commission 2024 Enlargement Package and Türkiye report which is published on 30^th of October 2024. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu emphasised the steps that need to be taken to make progress in Türkiye's accession negotiations, which have been effectively frozen since 2018. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu said the following:

“The European Commission published today its 2024 Enlargement Strategy Package and Candidate Country Reports. Every year the EU publishes reports analysing the progress of candidate countries towards membership based on the Copenhagen Criteria. In addition to Türkiye, these reports are being released for eight other candidate countries and one potential candidate. Montenegro and Serbia are currently making the most progress towards EU membership. Membership negotiations have already started for the other candidates, namely North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine and Moldova. In Türkiye's case, the last chapter was opened in 2016. However, in 2018, the EU decided that no new chapters would be opened. Already in 2006, the Council had decided not to open eight chapters and not to close any chapters on the grounds that ships originating from Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus were not allowed into ports. In other words, even though we could open chapters, we could not close them. This situation has taken away the vision of membership. Although Türkiye accepts no alternative to full membership, we face significant challenges in achieving this goal. It is crucial that Türkiye revitalizes reforms to fulfil the Copenhagen Criteria. While this alone is not enough to revitalize the membership process, it is necessary for Türkiye to recapture the dynamism of the early 2000s, to take steps to resolve its problems in the areas of law, democracy and fundamental rights, and to increase foreign investment.”
 

2024 Türkiye Report Announced

IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu evaluated the content of the 2024 Türkiye report as follows:

The 2024 report is largely similar to previous reports. Rather than proposals to revitalize Türkiye's EU process, it examines Türkiye's status and progress in terms of EU membership criteria and acquis chapters. As part of the European Commission's clustering strategy, the rule of law, democracy, independence of the judiciary and fundamental rights are prioritised. There are criticisms that the EU's warnings on these issues have not been heeded and no progress has been made. It is stated that the March 2024 local elections were well organised and the will of the people was manifested.

Türkiye is identified as a key partner and candidate country and the continuation of the Cyprus negotiations is emphasised as important for cooperation. It is noted that Türkiye is the EU's 5th largest trading partner and that cooperation on refugees continues in line with the 18 March 2016 declaration. In the area of foreign, security and defence policy, areas where Türkiye is at odds with EU priorities are pointed out. In this regard, especially in an increasingly tense geopolitical environment, it is crucial for Türkiye and the EU to overcome their differences and work in a more coordinated manner.

Similarly, removing trade barriers and making digital and green transformation an integral part of the Türkiye-EU relationship will lead to gains for both sides. This requires a visionary approach and a strong political will to solve problems.

As civil society and the business world, our role is to support the process as we have been doing for 60 years as IKV, to make recommendations to overcome the problems, to work with stakeholders in the EU for the improvement of Türkiye-EU relations and for Türkiye to take its rightful place in the EU, and to work together to ensure that Europe's achievements bring concrete benefits for the Turkish people.

Although the term “backsliding”, which was frequently used in previous reports, does not appear in this report, it seems to have been replaced by “no progress”. Türkiye is found to have a functioning market economy and the tight monetary policy is recommended to continue. In the field of energy, it recommends increasing the share of renewable energy, updating the education system to meet the skills required by the labour market, removing non-tariff barriers contrary to the custom union and aligning with the EU services directive. Türkiye is reminded to align with the EU Common Customs Tariff on issues such as additional tariffs, which are seen as contrary to the customs union. Although it is stated that Türkiye is well prepared or has some level of preparedness in many of the chapters, it is added that no progress has been made in some of these areas.

- The areas where Türkiye has a certain level of preparedness are listed as follows: Public administration reform, justice, freedom, security, fight against organised crime, public procurement, statistics, free movement of capital, competition, digital transformation and media, taxation, economic and monetary policy, social policy and employment, entrepreneurship and industrial policy, education and culture, transport, energy, environment and climate change, agriculture and rural development, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary, fisheries, regional policy and structural instruments, fiscal and budgetary provisions, external economic relations, external, security and defence policy.

- Türkiye is less well prepared in the following areas: market economy, resisting competitive pressures, financial control, free movement of goods, company law, intellectual property, financial services, consumer and health protection, science and research, customs union, trans-European networks.

- Areas where Türkiye is at a very early stage or not prepared are: anti-corruption, freedom of expression, free movement of workers, services and the right to settle.

- The areas where there has been no progress in the past year, regardless of the level of readiness, are listed as follows: Public administration reform, judiciary and fundamental rights, fight against corruption, freedom of expression, public procurement, financial control, free movement of workers, right of establishment and free movement of services, intellectual property, competition, taxation, social policy and employment, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary health, financial and budgetary provisions, external, security and defence policy.

It is a fact that Türkiye's market economy, growth rate and institutional alignment with the EU are far advanced compared to other candidate countries. However, the delay in taking the necessary reform steps in areas such as law, independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression and the fight against corruption has a negative impact on our EU process. In addition, the EU's attitude is far from being constructive on issues such as the Cyprus issue, which is unilaterally put before us by some EU members. However, for Türkiye, moving towards the EU criteria will strengthen the development thrust, improve our democracy and trigger investments that will reinforce green and digital transformation.”