Following the publication of the European Commission Progress Report on Turkey on 10 November 2015, “New Perspectives: Mathematics and Linguistics of European Commission Progress Reports” panel was held on 13 November 2015 in cooperation of IKV and Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The panel discussion started following the opening speech of IKV Secretary-General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas and the presentation by IKV Deputy Secretary-General and Research Director Melih Özsöz which summarises the findings of the studies titled “Mathematics of European Commission Progress Reports on Turkey” and “Linguistics of European Commission Progress Reports on Turkey” as well as the assessment of ‘new generation’ of progress reports the first of which was published in 2015.  Following the opening speeches, a panel was organized not only to discuss the latest developments on Turkey’s EU accession negotiations and the refugee crisis but also to assess 2015 Progress Reports from the technical and political perspectives. The panel was composed of IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas, TEPAV EU Institute Director Nilgün Arısan Eralp, Journalist from Hürriyet Daily News Columnist Barçın Yinanç, Assist. Prof. Özge Zihnioğlu from Kültür University and Mercator-IPC Research Fellow İlke Toygür as the discussants.

In the first round of discussions, the distinguished speakers made an assessment on the Commission’s progress reports and Turkey’s EU accession negotiations. In this first round, it was emphasized that the EU considers Turkey as its strategic partner instead of a candidate state to membership. Furthermore, it was also revealed that because of current issues, the EU has a problem in terms of absorption capacity. It was also pointed out that the progress reports were not freed from considerations of daily politics putting thus in jeopardy its effectiveness and importance. On the other hand, it was also explained that the emphasis upon the Copenhagen Criteria in the Progress Reports which was stronger in the past was not reflected in the last reports. It has been also pointed out that the Commission drafted these reports by taking into account the realpolitik perspective, as it is the case with the ongoing refugee crisis. It was also stressed that despite the double standards and hypocrisy involved in the negotiations, the accession process has a positive effect upon Turkey.

In the second round of discussions, the panellists shared their thoughts regarding the priority issues in Turkey-EU relations and how the refugee crisis was dealt with within the framework of 2015 Progress Report. In the panel, it was stressed that the parties are using the refugee crisis as a reciprocal cause and are not linking it with Turkey’s EU membership. On the other hand, it was also explained that the EU expects that the Syrian refugees are kept in Turkey whereas Turkey’s expectation is to further progress in the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue. In that respect, it was highlighted that Turkey still has important steps to meet the requirements for the visa requirements towards Turkish citizens travelling into EU countries to be lifted. On the other side, the fact that the refugee crisis has become part of what is perceived as populist policies in Turkey was criticized and the need for a more rational approach in that respect was underlined. Furthermore, the perception of the refugee crisis in the EU was also explained to the participants. The attention was drawn to the growing far right movements in Europe increasing their discourse against refugees and also Muslims.

In the last round of discussions, the technical and political structure of the progress reports was assessed. It was mainly explained that the progress reports are of critical importance in order to achieve further progress in the accession negotiations. The need of further credibility was also highlighted. Furthermore, the importance of taking on board progress reports in the context of the EU’s Enlargement Strategy was also stressed. In that respect, it was highlighted that the rule of law and fundamental rights are sine qua non values for the EU. In the 2015 Progress Report 2005, it has been highlighted that there is backslide in these areas. The panellists indeed reminded that the most apparent regression with respect to fundamental rights has happened in the area of freedom of expression. Moreover, it was also stressed that it is of utmost importance to continue to see the EU as an anchor regarding Turkey’s progress in accession negotiations. Following the panel on new perspectives in Turkey-EU relations, the conference was completed with a Q&A session.