Turkey continues on a path of “democratic regression”with “serious deficiencies in the functioning of its democratic institutions”highlights the European Commission’s annual progress report published today.

Turkey remains at an early stage of implementing the EU acquis and European standards in the area of ​​rule of law and fundamental rights, while “human and fundamental rights continued to deteriorate and no progress has been made on last year’s recommendations,” the Commission’s report underlines, in particular the backsliding in the area of ​​freedom of expression.

“The May 2023 election campaign suffered restrictions on freedom of expression, both private and public media failed to ensure editorial independence and impartiality in campaign coverage, reducing voters’ ability to make informed choices,” it said, among other things.

It is also pointed out that powers are retained at the level of the Presidency and a healthy and effective separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary is not ensured. “The ineffective checks and balances mechanism means that the executive is democratically accountable only through elections,” the report said, adding that “political pluralism continued to be undermined by the targeting of opposition parties and individual MPs.”

According to the Commission, the serious regression of Ankara continued and in the field of justice despite various judicial reform packages in recent years and structural deficiencies in the judicial system remained unresolved. The continued refusal to implement certain judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) remains a cause for concern.

As regards immigration and asylum policy, the Commission considers that Turkey has made some progress. “The EU-Turkey statement remained the main framework for cooperation between the EU and Turkey. The Commission expects Turkey to honor its commitments under the EU-Turkey Statement, in line with the European Council conclusions of October 2021, including the prevention of irregular migration by land and sea routes and the resumption of returns. The return of irregular migrants from the Greek islands under the EU-Turkey statement remained suspended. The full and effective implementation of the EU-Turkey readmission agreement to all EU member states is pending”the report emphasizes.

It is noted that the total number of illegal border crossings between Turkey and Greece remained significantly lower than before the adoption of the EU-Turkey statement.

In 2022, the number of irregular migrants arriving increased on most routes compared to 2021. In the first half of 2023, the number of irregular arrivals from Turkey to the EU was lower than in the same period in 2022. Arrivals to Greece increased by 62%, while the sea route to Italy saw a significant decrease of 52% and the number of arrivals to Cyprus via the Green Line decreased significantly by 42%.

It is further pointed out that Turkey continued to make significant efforts to accommodate and meet the needs of one of the largest refugee communities in the world. Of the nearly €10 billion in EU refugee support granted since 2011, around €7 billion had been disbursed by September 2023.

It is noted that the next EU-Turkey high-level dialogue on migration is scheduled to take place on 23 November 2023.

Foreign Policy

The report emphasizes that “Turkey is an active and important actor in the field of foreign policy, which is an important element in the context of the EU-Turkey relationship.”

However Turkey’s unilateral foreign policy remained at odds with the EU’s common foreign and security policy priorities (CFSP). Special mention is made of Turkey’s rhetoric in support of Hamas following its attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023 – rhetoric which “completely disagrees with the EU’s approach”.

As for the striker war of Russia against Ukraine, the Commission notes that Turkey condemned the Russian military attack and engaged politically and diplomatically, facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain and the exchange of prisoners and trying to facilitate talks between Ukraine and Russia and work towards de-escalation and a ceasefire.

However, “Turkey avoided aligning with EU restrictive measures against Russia”, emphasizes the Commission and “overall, Turkey significantly strengthened its trade and economic ties with Russia”.

The Commission also notes that in March 2023 the Turkish National Assembly approved Finland’s accession to NATO and that the Turkish President submitted Sweden’s accession protocol to the Turkish parliament for ratification on October 23, 2023.

Neighborhood relations

On the relations between Turkey and Greece, the Commission’s report states that “worsened by early 2023, but after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in February 2023, there was a marked improvement.”

It is noted that “Greece quickly provided humanitarian aid and support to Turkey, which helped de-escalate tensions and rhetoric. Several phone calls and high-level meetings followed.”

Furthermore, the report details the positive climate of the meetings that followed between the leaders and foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey.

It is also noted that “from February 2023, violations of Greek airspace drastically reduced and no flights over Greek residential areas were reported”.

The report also underlines that “continuing the dialogue in good faith and refraining from unilateral actions, which go against the interests of the EU and violate international law and the sovereign rights of EU member statesis a key condition for ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between the EU and Turkey.”

As far as Cyprus is concerned, it is noted that “Turkey continued to refuse to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and repeatedly argued a two-state solution in Cyprus, contrary to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council“, while it is pointed out that “the EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the framework of the United Nations, in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, in accordance with the principles on which the EU is based and the acquis”. It is also noted that there were no unauthorized drilling activities by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean during the reporting period.

Special mention is made of the escalation of tension, which Turkey led to, in Pyla in August 2023, which included the attack against the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

In October 2023, The United Nations brokered a deal between the two sides on the way forward on the Pyla region, which was welcomed by Turkey and the EU. “However, these developments have continued to undermine the prospect of resuming negotiations and achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue,” the Commission emphasizes.