IKV’s Trustee Organisations: 19 65 ISSUE: 71 APRIL 2021 www.ikv.org.tr / contact: [email protected] TURKEY-EU RELATIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE MARCH EUROPEAN COUNCIL: TOWARDS A POSITIVE AGENDA? A revitalisation of Turkey-EU relations is urgently needed for both parties and will entail both de-escalation in the foreign policy domain and building of cooperation and trust as well as progress in the human rights, democracy and rule of law situation in Turkey. Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem NAS Statement of the Members of the EU and Member State interests again, European Council did not include then it would use “the instruments IKV Secretary General a harsh criticism regarding these and options at its disposal to defend developments and accorded the its interests…”. Such instruments that urkey-EU relations have 8th place to the rule of law and could be used against Turkey were followed a bumpy path since fundamental rights question among not elaborated in the statement. T2016. The year 2020 was a total of 11 points (point 16 under However, the report titled “State of especially challenging because the title of “Eastern Mediterranean” play of EU-Turkey political, economic of rising tensions in the Eastern starting with point 9). Moreover, the and trade relations” prepared by the Mediterranean in addition to the debate about Turkey-EU relations European Commission and High dire effects of the coronavirus was under the title of the “Eastern Representative Borrell detailed the pandemic. Seismic explorations Mediterranean” giving pundits an possible sanctions that could be for hydrocarbons off the coast of idea about the lenses through which employed against Turkey such as Cyprus and in the Aegean exposed the EU has been eyeing Turkey lately. adoption of additional listings for flashpoints in the region emanating The EU Leaders’ Statement restrictive measures, restrictions from the unsettled Cyprus question noted “the EU’s strategic interest in on economic cooperation, sectoral and bilateral disputes between a stable and secure environment in measures such as prohibition to Turkey and Greece. Moreover, the Eastern Mediterranean and in supply of tourism services, and Turkey’s assertive foreign policy and the development of a cooperative additional measures in energy and operations regarding Syria, Libya and mutually beneficial relationship related sectors such as import/export with Turkey”, and welcomed bans on goods and technologies. and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts conversation between Turkish and governor who was an internationally “the recent de-escalation in the The implementation of such clashed with EU and its Member French Presidents, exploratory renowned technocrat with a more Eastern Mediterranean through the sanctions, which would go beyond State interests. Such developments talks between Turkey and Greece controversial figure and the opening discontinuation of illegal drilling the framework of Turkey-EU relations increased the EU’s threat assessment restarted after five years. Germany’s of the closure case against the activities, the resumption of bilateral but would target the already fragile vis-à-vis Turkey while it led Turkey Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heiko Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and talks between Greece and Turkey Turkish economy, could have drastic to question the EU’s support for its Maas’ visit to Turkey took place in the lifting of immunity for yet another and the forthcoming talks on the effects on stability in Turkey. Hence, security. The growing rift between an amicable atmosphere as did one of its members of Parliament. Cyprus problem under the auspices while the focus of the European Turkey and the EU created a Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, While the withdrawal from the of the United Nations”. Hence, it Council is on rewarding the recent paradoxical situation in the relations: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s visit to Brussels. Istanbul Convention had a symbolic may be evaluated that the recent de-escalation in the Eastern Will Turkey continue as a candidate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan significance regarding the Turkish change in Turkey’s policy in the Mediterranean and kick off a more to join the EU or will a different sort reiterated Turkey’s strategic goal government’s adherence to women’s Eastern Mediterranean pleased the amicable relationship based on of relationship emerge which will be of EU membership noting that rights and gender equality, coupled EU and tilted the balance in favour mutual interests, the sanctions toolkit more conflictual than cooperative? accepting Turkey as a Member State with the disregard for the European of positive measures to revitalize is developed behind the scenes in The EU mostly led by would be an ontological choice Court of Human Rights decisions and Turkey-EU relations. The leaders also order to be availed in case of a return Germany and facilitated by High for the EU. These overtures were delay in the ratification of the Paris added that the situation in the region to tension and crises in the region. Representative for Foreign Affairs and followed by an intensifying discourse Climate Agreement it also attests to was still fragile and more time was In a nutshell, Turkey-EU relations Security Policy Josep Borrell aimed on reform culminating in President a falling out with multilateralism and needed in order to reach a definitive are at a crossroads. Although Turkey to prevent the further deterioration Erdoğan’s declaration of a Human global norms. The sudden change view on the implementation of the is still a candidate country to the EU, in Turkey-EU relations through the Rights Action Plan and an Economic in the Central Bank raises questions positive measures. The EU put forth it is no longer regarded as a genuine proposition of a positive agenda. Reform Package. What proved about economic governance in three positive measures in order to candidate by the EU and its Member The positive agenda included to be quite problematic was the an extremely fragile economic trigger cooperation with Turkey “in a States. An alternative relationship based further cooperation on mutual discrepancy between the proclaimed situation adding to the worries of phased, proportionate and reversible on a strategic partnership is being interests such as trade facilitation, aim of reforming the political and international investors about the manner”: economic cooperation formulated in this process. However, modernisation of the Customs economic situation in the direction of soundness of the management of and talks regarding the current any new relationship between Union, restarting high level dialogue democracy, human rights, rule of law Turkish economy. The closure case problems in the Customs Union Turkey and the EU would definitively meetings, refugee cooperation and good governance and the actual against HDP, the third largest party and starting work on a mandate for be considered as a downgrading and people-to-people contacts. turn of events. in terms of the votes it received in the modernisation of the Customs from the status of candidate and Turkey’s first reaction to the positive Three developments took place the last elections and a member of Union; restarting high level dialogues acceding country. Based on the agenda was lukewarm however, the in Turkey right before the critical the “Millet” coalition was viewed from with Turkey on issues such as public current conditions, a revitalisation of Turkish government took care not to 25-26 March European Council. The Europe as an undemocratic move health, climate, counter-terrorism Turkey-EU relations is urgently needed antagonize the relationship further EU leaders had postponed a lengthier induced by the government not and regional issues; and engaging in for both parties and will entail both by moderating its approach to the debate on Turkey-EU relations to the an act against terrorism initiated by cooperation regarding mobility and de-escalation in the foreign policy Eastern Mediterranean tensions and March Summit. These developments an independent judiciary. Despite people-to-people contacts. domain and building of cooperation improving its bilateral relations with were Turkey’s decision to withdraw these developments which led to The European Council and trust as well as progress in the EU Member States such as Greece from the Istanbul Convention on a questioning of the government’s underlined that if Turkey’s actions in human rights, democracy and rule of and France. While an exchange of fighting violence against women, the determination to revitalize the EU Eastern Mediterranean threatened law situation in Turkey. letters was followed by a phone decision to replace the Central Bank accession perspective, the 25 March 1965 2020 19 65 1 1965 ISSUE: 71 APRIL 2021 9 65 2018 IKV AGENDA “WE RECEIVE THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM” n 25 March 2021, IKV Commission to resolve the problems However, it was mentioned in on reforms in the field of economy OChairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu in the Turkey-EU Customs Union the report prepared by Borrell. and politics in Turkey until June will commented on the European and initiating the modernisation The rapid fulfilment of the six pave the way for a revitalisation of Council conclusions under the process and a high level dialogue remaining benchmarks for visa relations with the EU. The European heading “Eastern Mediterranean” including on topics such as climate liberalisation will accelerate the Council requested to advance the regarding relations with Turkey. IKV and public health, progress