We were all waiting for the announcement from Brussels. The European Commission announced the "Progress Report" to the public at around 2:00 p.m. yesterday. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, roughly at the same time, was to address the EU Assembly in Strasbourg and respond to questions from parliamentarians.
He was to disclose his views on the report in Strasbourg, one of the important centers of the Union. And these are days of fate and decision in Turkey's four-decade adventure for EU membership. The importance of the report announced yesterday was to shed more light on the negotiation process. European leaders in light of the report will decide in the December summit on whether or not to start negotiations with Turkey.
The road map outlining the negotiation process, and the timeline for all the strategies to be spread over the years, will emerge between the lines. EU Commissioner for Enlargement, [Guenter] Verheugen stated that the recommendation part has been lengthened and recommendations covering the negotiation process will be made. In fact, Turkey has taken the necessary steps needed for an affirmative report. It has brought the Copenhagen Criteria to Ankara.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, by adopting successive packages within two years, spearheaded radical reforms. European leaders are aware of the distance Turkey has covered in the recent past.
The snag that surfaced a result of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) package was effectively dealt with in negotiations between Erdogan and Verheugen in Brussels; hence, the whole world heard the words of the commissioner, "There are no further obligations." There were also no shortcomings on the part of Turkey before the announcement of the report.
It is already known that some European countries have found it extremely difficult to accept Turkey due to its population, geography, religious and cultural structures. Hence, over a long period of time, they have pursued a policy of further complicating issues through lame excuses. Deputy head of the French EU parliamentary delegation, Elisabeth Guigou, said, "Turkey has been made the scapegoat of EU enlargement."
To be honest, some Europeans subconsciously still have negative stereotyped thoughts about Turkey, in spite of the major reforms and the significant steps taken. The EU decision does not only affect Turkey, as a matter of fact, it affects the future of Europe even more.
The EU's Turkey policy will prove how real European values are. It won't be easy for a Europe that excludes Turkey, and does not possess the values epitomized by Turkey, to sustain the spirit of union for long. In other words, while making a decision on Turkey, Europe is at the same time shaping its own future, by putting forward what kind of future it envisages. The policy of "introversion" strikes a hard blow at structures like the EU, whereas "extroversion" along with growth, makes the structure "stronger and more healthy." Therefore, the fear of the Turks is absolutely nonsensical, meaningless…
It has no political equivalence. On the contrary, transforming that fear into policy has its price. What did the report yesterday say? It is almost certain that that the report will be filled with positive and laudatory remarks by referring to the steps the AKP government has taken towards democratization and human rights. Besides, there might be certain aspects hard for Turkey to swallow or accept.
Political barriers could emerge, if the Copenhagen homework is neglected, as a result of some dynamics I have emphasized above. News on the "Progress Report" had been published in the Western press for a several days. The British Financial Times newspaper, allocated a full page to Turkey, and wrote about the possibility of the report referring to the thoughts of Turkey's opponents.
According to the newspaper, while starting membership negotiations with Turkey is being proposed, the recognition of Greek Cyprus and "emergency breaks" in case of any human rights violations will also be put forward.
Turkey is awaiting an objective report compatible with European values, not one that contradicts itself, and is asking Europe to abide by the promises it has made. As Erdogan declared, it is impossible to accept conditional and discriminatory treatment.
October 7, 2004
