The Economic Development Foundation organised a meeting titled “The Future of Türkiye-EU Relations in Light of the 2024 Türkiye Report” which was hosted by Marmara University on November 13, 2024. At the meeting moderated by Prof. Yonca Özer, Head of the Department of European Union Politics and International Relations at Marmara University European Studies; IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas made evaluations regarding the European Commission’s 2024 Türkiye Report.

After expressing that she was very pleased to attend this meeting, IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas began her speech by framing the 2024 Türkiye Report, which is a part of the Enlargement Package published on October 30, 2024. Nas expressed that 2024 Türkiye Report might be taken in a broad view to see that the evaluations are organized under six clusters. Stating that the title of the first cluster is "Foundations", Nas commented the most critical points to be in this cluster. Nas conveyed that this cluster includes democratic institutions, public administration, judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, economic criteria, good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation and the ability to assume membership obligations. Nas stated that the title of the second cluster is Internal Market, the third is Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth, the fourth is Green Agenda Sustainable Connectivity, the fifth is Resources, Agriculture, Harmony and the sixth is External Relations.

In her general assessment of the report, Nas stated that the term "backsliding" was used 28 times in the 2023 Türkiye Report and while emphasising that such word was not used in the 2024 Türkiye Report stating the phrase "no progress" was used 54 times instead. Nas expressed that the report focused on the inadequacy of the democratic balance and control system, the NGOs to exist in difficult conditions and the need for public recruitment to be based on merit and that the recommendations in the previous report had not been implemented. In addition, Nas shared that although there were negative judgments regarding the judiciary and fundamental rights, the fight against corruption and freedom of expression; the economic criteria emphasised that the return to orthodox monetary policies had positive effects on the economy.

Additionally, Nas stated that there was a good level of preparation in areas related to the internal market, particularly in the free movement of goods. However, the report noted the need to remove non-tariff barriers and address non-compliant practices concerning the Customs Union. Nas added the report also stated the fact that harmonization with the EU in company law to be advanced and that there was a good level of preparation in terms of intellectual property while adding the report to address the need to combat the violations better. Moreover, Nas noted the fact that Türkiye was emphasised to be well prepared in practices regarding consumer and health protection.

Another cluster, Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth, was expressed by Nas to have included advice to further strengthen the functional independence of the Central Bank, and a recommendation to remove obstacles to trade union rights and collective agreements in social policy. Nas added the report mentioned the necessity of the employment rate of women and youth to be increased while stating the report also noted a good level of preparation was made regarding the customs union by Türkiye. Nas also added that the average of young people who are neither at work nor at school is low compared to the EU.

Sharing her assessments regarding the Foreign Relations cluster, Nas conveyed that the report argued that the EU's expectations from Türkiye regarding foreign relations were not met and stated that despite a certain level of preparation in common foreign security and defence policies, there was no progress. Nas stated that the report conveyed Türkiye pursued an attitude and policy that was incompatible with the EU regarding sanctions imposed on Russia and that its failure to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization created problems in relations.

Nas touched upon the problems in Türkiye-EU relations under different headings in the last part of the meeting, and categorised these problems as compliance with EU political criteria, democracy, human rights and law; the Cyprus issue and foreign policy; the uneasiness in the EU caused by Türkiye’s new pursuits and in domestic and foreign policy and the EU’s approach to Türkiye; the deepening of the EU candidate role and the greater adoption of the strategic partnership discourse. Nas added that the report referred that the statements of the EU officials should be closely followed and that it was recommended to increase compliance with foreign policy. Finally, Nas emphasised Türkiye indeed had made more progress in the economy compared to other candidate countries and she indicated the importance of the Türkiye-EU Customs Union in relations and highlighted the need to adapt to the rapidly changing domestic market.

The meeting ended after the questions and answers session.