A long process

The process that Turkey has to complete before she can join the EU seems to be growing longer, not shorter. Confirmation of this comes from the debate held at the European Parliament on 21 May and from the report adopted by a very large majority of MEPs on the membership negotiations begun in October 2005. The EP in fact underlines: “The opening of these negotiations represents the point of departure of a process of long duration and without any time limit. In other words, Turkey’s entry into the EU is not a foregone conclusion and in any case is not expected to take place in the short term. Reforms, limited progress. Many MEPs spoke during the debate in the EP; most of them emphasized the importance of the process begun by Turkey in her bid to become a member of the EU. The opinions contrary to Turkey’s membership were a minority. Yet almost all the interventions remarked on the delays in Turkey’s implementation of the necessary reforms to bring the country into line with Europe, especially those regarding “full democracy”, the protection of human rights, the rights of women and minorities, and those regarding Turkey’s relations with her neighbouring countries, especially Cyprus. The report drawn up by the Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten finally obtained 467 votes in support, 62 against and 61 abstentions. In her intervention, Oomen-Ruijten “looked inside” the political and social reality of the great Eurasian country; and then confirmed that “full compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria, in tandem with a capacity for integration in the Union, remains the basis for membership”. Undoubtedly the Commission’s recent “progress report” does not count in Ankara’s favour: it stated that in 2007 “limited progress was registered in the field of the political reforms” requested by the 27.Freedom of religion. So, the points to which the Parliament in Strasbourg draws the attention of the Erdogan government are numerous. For example, the need to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of the press underscored once again: the recent reform of article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code does not seem to satisfy the European Parliament, which in fact calls for its abrogation; it still regards it as an “arbitrary restriction” of freedom of expression. Freedom of religion forms a chapter in itself: the report invites the Turkish government to honour the pledges it has made in the protection of this freedom, and defines a legislative framework that would permit all religious communities to act “without undue restrictions”, especially with regard to their legal status, training of clergy, election of church leaders, religious education and the construction of places of worship. Civil rights and social development. More generally the European Parliament still awaits from Turkey a development towards a society guided by respect for human rights and fundamental liberties, founded on the principles of democracy and the rule of law, “and with a market economy sensitive to social problems”; only thus will the country be able to “evolve into a peaceful, stable and prosperous society”. Turkey, in addition, must act to remove “all forms of discrimination”: the acquis communautaire calls for “equality for everyone, irrespective of sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or personal convictions, handicap, age or sexual orientation”. Equally important are the chapters of the report devoted to women’s rights, the efficiency of the judicial system, efforts to eliminate torture (“committed inside and outside” state prisons), the control of immigration, and the fight against terrorism. Women, the report stresses, must not be discriminated against, neither at the legal nor political level, and still less in the family or on the workplace. The public authorities have the task to “continue their efforts to eliminate domestic violence”, so-called “crimes of honour” and forced marriages, also through “continuous information campaigns”. Foreign relations. On the Kurdish question the EP awaits a “lasting solution”, based on “real improvements in the opportunities for social, economic and cultural life” granted to Kurds. This large minority – insists the report – must be guaranteed “the real possibility of learning the Kurdish language in state and private schools, using it in radio and television broadcasts”, and having proper access to public services. A no less important chapter is devoted to “foreign relations”. The European Parliament expects Ankara to “tackle and resolve all outstanding disputes in a peaceful manner”: in particular those with Greece (delimitation of the continental platform of the Aegean Sea) and with Bulgaria (property rights of Bulgarian refugees in Thrace). Respect for the territorial sovereignty of Iraq is also indispensable. Another essential problem that remains to be solved is that of Turkey’s relations with Cyprus. But the EP also calls on Ankara to “re-open its frontiers with Armenia, and restore full economic and political relations with that country”.