European Parliament Freezes Turkey's EU Membership Process

According to a report adopted by the European Parliament (EP), Turkey's EU membership process cannot be resumed under current conditions, despite the democratic and pro-European aspirations of the majority of Turkish society. A total of 367 members of the European Parliament voted in favor, 74 against, and 188 abstained.

“Members of the European Parliament are deeply concerned about the ongoing deterioration of democratic standards in Turkey and the continuous repression of critical voices. They denounce the suppression of recent peaceful mass protests and the persecution of hundreds of protesters through expedited mass trials without any evidence of criminal wrongdoing,” the EP stated in a communication following the discussion during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

The report indicates that “the Turkish government has failed to address fundamental democratic shortcomings,” which are necessary for the EU membership process. According to the document, Turkish authorities “are pushing the country further toward a fully authoritarian model.”

The report states that EU membership is conditional upon meeting certain entry criteria, such as “stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect and protection of minorities, friendly relations, respect for international law, and alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy.”

These are absolute criteria, remind the EU parliamentarians. “The criteria for EU membership are not negotiable,” the report emphasizes.

The European Parliament has called on Turkish authorities, EU institutions, and member states to continue working towards “a closer, more dynamic, and strategic partnership, with particular attention to actions against climate change, energy security, cooperation in counter-terrorism, and regional stability.”

In December 1999, the European Council recognized Turkey as a candidate country for EU membership. Negotiations for the country’s accession to the European Union began in October 2005. In 2018, the EU Council announced that those negotiations were suspended. “The negotiations have effectively reached a deadlock,” the council’s document states.