IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu evaluated the EP’s Turkey report which was approved today with 477 votes to 64, stating that the report was far from displaying a coherent and constructive approach towards Turkey.

The 2016 Turkey report prepared by MEP Kati Piri which had first been discussed at the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and approved today at the Plenary meeting recommended that in the event that the constitutional amendments were implemented unchanged,  accession negotiations with Turkey should be formally suspended.

Furthermore, the report also underscores that the constitutional amendments are not in line with the Copenhagen criteria in terms of separation of powers, balance and monitoring system and preconizes the launch of a reinforced cooperation process which would be mutually beneficial instead of the current accession negotiations.

Assessing the resolution of the EP with respect to the suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, Chairman Zeytinoğlu first of all stressed that it did not represent a binding decision and further highlighted that suspending negotiations would result in tremendous damage to Turkey-EU relations:

“It is of utmost importance to note that in order to full advance in issues criticised by the EP such as democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law and for Turkey to progress in these areas and in order to be fully in line with European values, the most effective method would be to open Chapters 23 and 24 within the framework of the accession negotiations. An effective and credible negotiation process is the most efficient way in enabling the necessary rapprochement between Turkey and the EU”.

“The report represents the opinion of the Parliament. The ultimate decision-making organ with regard to the fate of Turkey’s accession negotiations is the Council of the EU where the governments of the Member States are represented”. 

Chairman Zeytinoğlu also indicated that the EP report does not have a binding nature with respect to EU institutions and that the decision-making body with respect to negotiations with Turkey remains the EU Council. Moreover, Zeytinoğlu further noted that at this particular juncture, there has not been any credible proposal to suspend negotiations with Turkey within the framework of the agenda of the Council:

“This report only reflects the opinion of the Parliament and does not bind the other EU institutions. As such, the decision to suspend negotiations concretely can only be taken upon a proposal from the Commission (or 1/3 of member States) by the Council. Under the current circumstances, this seems extremely difficult. In order for the Council to suspend negotiations with Turkey, it would take a decision at qualified majority and as it stands, there is no such majority within the Member States to follow such a course of action”.