Turkey continues to move further and further away from the European Union, says the annual report of the European Commission on EU enlargement policy
BRUSSELS, 6 October. /TASS/. Turkey continues to move further and further away from the European Union, negotiations on Ankara’s accession to the EU are at an impasse. This is stated in the annual report of the European Commission (EC) on EU enlargement policy.
“<…> Turkey continues to move further and further away from the European Union, seriously retreating in areas such as democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary,” it says.
The document emphasizes that negotiations between Brussels and Ankara on the country’s accession to the European Union have reached an impasse. “As stated by the Council of Europe in 2018 and 2019, Turkey’s accession negotiations have effectively stalled and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing. The report presented today confirms that the fundamental facts underlying this assessment are still persist despite repeated statements about the commitment of the [Turkish] government to the goal of EU accession,” the report says.
The report emphasizes that “Turkey’s foreign policy is increasingly colliding with EU priorities in the framework of the common foreign and security policy.” “Turkey should make an unconditional commitment to good neighborly relations, international agreements and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, turning, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice,” it says.
Negotiations with Turkey on membership
Turkey, which has been an associate member of the European Union since 1964, applied for EU membership on April 14, 1987. The negotiation process for its admission to the EU began on October 3, 2005. To join the union, Turkey must successfully complete negotiations with the European Commission on 33 out of 35 negotiation points (two do not require agreement). After that, the EU countries must unanimously vote for granting Turkey membership in the European Union.
On July 6, 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the EU countries and the European Commission to suspend negotiations on Turkey’s accession until its authorities amend the constitution. In April 2017, a referendum on Turkish constitutional reform was held, resulting in a significant expansion of presidential powers.
Over the past three years, Brussels and the EU member states at various levels have repeatedly stated that Turkey’s actions contribute to estrangement from the European community, and called on Ankara to determine its position.
Source: Tass