IKV’s Trustee Organisations: 19 65 ISSUE: 41 JUNE-JULY 2018 www.ikv.org.tr / contact: [email protected] THE AUSTRIAN EU PRESIDENCY AND PROSPECTS FOR TURKEY-EU RELATIONS As Austria has assumed the rotating six-month presidency of the EU on July 208, Turkey expects to have “minimum dialogue” with the new term president. Çisel İLERİ, its goals and priorities for the next six IKV Research Director months, it is very striking that Turkey as an EU accession country was not ustria took over the rotating even mentioned once. As many of Apresidency of the Council of the the readers may recall prior to the EU in a symbolic handover ceremony Turkey-EU Summit on 26 March, which in Schladming with the attendance of brought President Erdoğan and the European Council President Donald heads of EU institutions together, the Tusk, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has Borissov and Austrian Chancellor claimed that Turkey no longer fulfils Sebastian Kurz. Austria, which has the Copenhagen political criteria and assumed the EU presidency for the therefore EU accession negotiations third time after 998 and 2006, has with Turkey shall be suspended. chosen the motto “A Europe that Lately, the Austrian Foreign Minister protects”. Karin Kneissl made the position of The Austrian Presidency in the her country vis-à-vis Turkey very clear second half of 208 has to work on by stating that they do not perceive prevailing complex dossiers, namely Turkey as an EU candidate country. negotiations regarding Brexit and In the face of this attitude, Turkish regarding the Multi-Annual Financial Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Framework for the period 202- took a realistic approach and said that 2027. Another important aspect for he did not think that any positive steps the work of the Austrian Presidency were going to be taken during the concerns the EP elections that will take Austrian Presidency and did not expect place on 23-26 May 209. Since EP’s any new negotiation chapters to be legislative period is coming to end, it opened. will be essential to reach agreements It seems that Austria does not on as many open legislative proposals want to deal with any issues related as possible. Therefore, the Austrian to the Turkey within its six month Council Presidency has to work on term at the EU’s helm. However, the reaching common positions in the attitude of the Austrian government Council on legislative proposals. overshadows the EU-wide leadership The priorities of the programme perspective, digitalisation from the Guard Agency (FRONTEX), in order to and renewing industrial policy. ambitions of Chancellor Sebastian of the Austrian Presidency were perspective of securing prosperity and guarantee the efficient protection of Regarding the third priority, the Kurz who constantly emphasises EU’s announced as follows: Security and competitiveness while considering the EU’s external borders. Austria plans Austrian Presidency undertook the task values. On the other hand, Turkey fight against illegal migration; securing only the Balkan countries as part of EU host a special summit in Salzburg on of advocating developing a concrete with its new governing system shall prosperity and competitiveness enlargement policy. 20 September 208, in order to deal EU perspective for all Western Balkan/ reinitiate the reform process in order through digitalisation and stability in It was not surprising that a with these issues. South Eastern European countries to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria. The the neighbourhood – bringing the special emphasis was put on security A considerable share of growth based on clear criteria relating to their objections of the Austrian government Western Balkans/South Eastern Europe and fight against illegal migration in the EU can already be attributed to individual performance and work on are not new for Turkey. Turkey had closer to the EU. by the Austrian Presidency. As the digital economy. Therefore, the achieving measurable progress. faced similar objections from Vienna one would recall, at the European Austrian Presidency considers that when the decision regarding the start “A Europe that Protects” and the Council meeting, which took place with an intelligent policy of digital The Missing Item in the of EU accession negotiations was Priorities of Austrian EU Presidency a few days before Austria took over transformation, it will be possible Programme of the Austrian EU taken. At that time, Turkey overcame It is clear that the motto of the the EU Presidency, one of the most to safeguard the competitiveness Presidency: Turkey those obstacles with its ambitious presidency “a Europe that protects” controversial issues was immigration, and sustainability of the European While the Austrian Presidency reform process which showed reflects the essence of the priorities and it took a great deal to reach final economy in the future. In order to is referring to development of Turkey’s determination to become and the working programme of settlement among Member States. improve framework conditions for relations with many countries and an EU Member State. It seems that Austria adequately. While preparing Thus, Austria aims to channel its efforts digital business models and services regions ranging from Russia to our previous experiences already the programme, the Austrian to reform the Common European Austria suggested completing the ASEAN countries, from the Caribbean provide the answer for Turkey’s EU bid, government preferred to approach Asylum System as well as strengthen Digital Single Market, modernising to Latin American countries, in its irrespective of whether Austria holds the migration issue from a security the European Border and Coast public administration on a broad scale 70-page programme, which sets out the EU presidency or not. ISSUE 4 . June-July 208 19 65 19 65 19 5 1965 1 1965 www.ikv.org.tr ISSUE: 4 JUNE-JULY 208 6 2018 9 65 2018 IKV AGENDA TIMELINE 1 “THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S FIRST ACTION SHOULD 2 BE TO TAKE A STEP TOWARDS THE EU” n a statement concerning the EU has maintained this stance on this following remarks: “The modernisation of 3 Iconclusions adopted by the General issue since the end of 206. In all the the Customs Union, which has been in Affairs Council on enlargement on meetings we hold in the Member States place since 996, is an issue that needs 4 26 June 208, IKV Chairman Ayhan or Brussels, we, as IKV emphasise that it to be addressed urgently. Regarding Zeytinoğlu made the following remarks: was the EU’s inability to provide a credible this, the EU has been exercising political “Nowadays, the EU is at a crossroads. On membership perspective to Turkey which conditionality and the Commission has 5 the one hand, there is a conflict between has brought the relations to this point. not been mandated by the Council to the Member States over migration and Turkey should also take steps in order to launch the negotiations. Given that the 6 asylum, on the other hand the reform break the deadlock in its relations with negotiations are likely to take a year efforts towards how the EU will take shape the EU. We are aware of the security issues or two, the process should be started following Brexit have accelerated. Beside our country is facing. We hope that the without further delay. This is a must for the 7 these, the EU has also strengthened the new government under the leadership Customs Union relationship to continue European perspective of the Western of our President, who has received in a sound way and to be extended to 8 Balkan countries. For Serbia and strong powers from the public, will take cover new areas such as agricultural Montenegro, 2025 has been pronounced the necessary steps to revitalise the EU products and services. This process will as an accession date, while Albania and accession process as soon as possible. We not only benefit Turkey, but also the 9 Macedonia are set to begin accession talks wish for the state of emergency to come companies in the EU. Moreover, through in June 209. These mean that the EU is to an end and for the economic and a positive agenda, the modernisation 10 moving forward. Therefore, Turkey should political reforms to be brought back into of the Customs Union could create the also take the steps to revitalise the EU was also discussed at length. The need was stated that the accession negotiations the agenda as soon as possible.” necessary momentum for advancing the accession process without further delay. to continue relations with Turkey and were at an impasse and the opening of Concerning the statement that the Turkey-EU relationship. Our expectation 11 During the General Affairs Council strengthen cooperation in areas such as new chapters or launch of negotiations negotiations aimed at the modernisation from the EU is to launch this process meeting, which was convened with migration, security and the fight against for the modernisation of the Customs of the Customs Union were not being without further delay, rather than using it 12 enlargement on the agenda, Turkey terrorism were emphasised. However, it Union were not being considered. The considered, IKV Chairman made the as a restrictive measure against Turkey.” 13 “THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IN THE POST-STATE OF EMERGENCY 14 TERM SHOULD BE THE EU PROCESS” 15 n 9 June 208, IKV Chairman years, will be expired. Security the Council of Europe, of which we foreign direct investment from the Ayhan Zeytinoğlu made precautions may be taken within are a member, has come up with a EU countries, preference for new O 16 a statement following the the period of three years in order positive statement concerning the production operations in Turkey announcement that the state to prevent any vulnerability in expiration of state of emergency, influences stability, democratic of emergency would not be the fight against terrorism in the shows that there are encouraging freedom and significantly affects 17 extended.