At the Turkey-EU Leaders Summit organized following the request of the President of EU Council Donald Tusk, cooperation to manage the migration crisis and new steps to revive Turkey-EU relations were discussed.

The migration flows from Turkey to the EU has given the opportunity to give a fresh start in Turkey-EU relations. In response to the EU’s expectations of Turkey’s migration management, it is foreseen to revive Turkey’s EU accession process by opening new chapters to negotiations, notably Chapter 17 on ‘Economic and Monetary Policy’ and carrying out preparatory works for the opening of other chapters; targeting the visa liberalisation by October 2016,  organizing regular summits,  two per year among parties; launching High Level Dialogue on Economy; modernizing the Customs Union and starting the negotiations for the Customs Union’s revision by the end of 2016 and ensuring an additional financial aid of 3 billion euros in fight against irregular migration.

As IKV, we welcome the fresh beginning on Turkey’s relations with the EU. In addition to the comments made by Turkish Prime Minister which have emphasized Turkey’s EU membership target and Turkey’s place within the European family of nations, the fact that the Presidents of the Commission and the Council are speaking about Turkey as a candidate country and emphasizing that their relations go well-beyond the migration issue, present a hopeful message.  It is essential to take good profit of the revitalization of Turkey-EU relations on the occasion of the migration crisis. In this respect, it is of vital importance that in addition to the technical and administrative cooperation, Turkey should pursue its reforms in the areas of democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms.

Furthermore, it is essential to put an end to the war in Syria with the involvement of all parties and international actors in order to overcome the refugee crisis. The common approach on terrorism and migration adopted by the countries during the G20 Summit in Antalya early this month should be implemented without further delay.

In this respect, as IKV, we are supporting all these processes that bring Turkey closer to EU membership target.

1. The fact that Chapter 17 on ‘Economic and Monetary Policy’ to be opened is a positive step in the EU accession negotiations. However, it should be reminded that it has been approximately one year since discussions on potential opening of this chapter have been on the table. Therefore, in reality it is not a new step to consider. The revitalisation of the whole process is also linked to the opening of critical chapters such as ‘Energy’; ‘Judiciary and Fundamental Rights’; ‘Justice, Freedom and Security’; and for chapters related to the Customs Union to be opened to negotiations implying the lifting of the blockages by some Member States and for chapters to be provisionally closed. A potential solution on Cyprus issue during the year 2016, will help lifting the obstacles and lead to opening of 14 chapters to negotiations. Furthermore, the removal of the decision taken in 2006 by the Council which prevents the provisional closing of chapters will also help revitalise the negotiations process. In that respect, it is of utmost importance to approach the Cyprus talks with care and to further show our support.

2. It is also a positive step that both parties have decided to hold regular summits. Thus, it will be possible to discuss bilateral issues at the highest level. This is an important step which would complete the high level dialogue processes that have started. However, it is also important to highlight the necessity for such summits to be realised within the framework of the negotiations process.

3. Cooperation is essential for the refugee crisis. However such a process necessitates an effective cooperation in terms of burden sharing. In that context, it is of critical importance for the EU to especially meet reasonable asylum requests and to provide technical and financial assistance. With the entry into force of the Readmission Agreement signed in 2013, the repatriation of illegal immigration to the EU through Turkey will be the case to observe. In order for the agreement to be successful, it is of utmost importance to create the legal, physical and administrative structures in Turkey; otherwise it will be very difficult for Turkey to fulfil its obligations. Indeed, the concrete solution consists, in that process, of effectively tackling the Syrian crisis and to create a new order which will provide the possibility for Syrians to go back to their homeland.

4. The fact that a clear date has been given in the context of the EU-Turkey Summit with regards to the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue is a positive step. However, it is important to remind that within the framework of the Readmission Agreement and of the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue, Turkey has 72 criteria to fulfil to successfully complete the process.

   Below are some of the criteria which come to the forefront:

• Ensuring the effective implementation of the Readmission Agreement;

• Introducing fingerprint and biometric features to Turkish passports in use;

• Ensuring document security in passports and visas; further enhancing cooperation with the EU in that area;

• Carrying out adequate border checks and border surveillance along all the borders of the country to prevent illegal migration flows and strengthening cooperation with Member States and related EU institutions;

• Implementing the Integrated Border Management Strategy;

• Combating effectively corruption in areas such as border management, visa, customs and passports;

• Ensuring harmony with international refugee law;

• Abolishing issuance of visas at the borders as an ordinary procedure for the national of certain non-EU countries, and especially for countries representing a high migratory and security risk to the EU;putting in use the new Turkish visa stickers with higher security features, and stopping the use of stamp visas, introducing transit visa procedures in airports;

• Harmonizing Turkey’s visa policy and legislation with the EU;

• Lifting the geographical limitation posed by the Geneva Convention and ensure international protection (Turkey noted that this may only be possible through its membership of the EU);

• Establishing a specialised body responsible for the refugee status determination procedures;

• Providing adequate support to persons who are benefiting from the refugee status and their access to public services, ensuring their social rights and their integration;

• Harmonizing rules related to the entry, stay or exit of foreigners in Turkey with EU legislation;

• Gathering data regarding regular and irregular migration and creating a mechanism to monitor migration flows;

• Creating a capacity to investigate organized illegal migration;

• Effectively seeking to conclude and implement readmission agreements with the countries that represent sources of important illegal migration flows directed towards Turkey or the EU Member States;

• Expelling migrants who are staying illegally or transiting and creating adequate capacity to readmit those that have been expelled by the EU;

• Continuing and completing the implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan on the fight against organized crime;

• Effectively combating with human trafficking within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights and EU standards;

• Signing the Convention of the Council of Europe on cybercrime and the financing of terrorism;

• Signing the relevant international conventions regarding the judiciary cooperation on criminal matters;

• Ensuring cooperation with EU institutions such as OLAF, EUROPOL, EUROJUST as well as with EU agencies in relation with the Turkish Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK);

• Establishing legislation on personal data protection in line with EU standards;

• Ensuring the free movement of Turkish citizens without discrimination and/or any restriction and providing information on the conditions for gaining Turkish citizenship.

During the visa liberalisation process, the steps taken by Turkey in terms of fulfilling all these criteria depend also on EU’s constructive approach. Only then, will it be possible to have visa-free travel for Turkish nationals.  

5- As mentioned bellow, the acceleration of the negotiations constitutes the most important area in Turkey’s relations with the EU. However, it is important not only to open new chapters to negotiations, but also to fulfil the political criteria especially as mentioned in the last progress report, especially on areas such as freedom of expression and assembly in order for Turkey to progress towards its membership target.

The EU’s need for Turkey in overcoming the refugee crisis has enabled Turkey-EU relations to revive.  However, for Turkey to become a full member of the EU and to take its well-deserved place in the decision-making process, it is imperative that Turkey fulfil the political criteria and to align to EU values. Lately practices such as the arrests of journalists go in contradiction with Turkey’s EU membership goal and attest to a divergence from EU values.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (İKV)