Turkey, Considering Human Rights and EU Accession

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Turkey, Considering Human Rights and EU Accession
Tim Eden-Calcott NCRE Roundtable seminar - 9
June 2006
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A country where torture is still a common
practice cannot have a seat at the table of the
European Union Jean-Claude Juncker, 1997
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The question posed
It has been argued that Turkey will not accede to
the EU because it will never meet the human
rights requirements of membership. Explain what
exactly these rights are, and comment on some
recent aspects of the debate.
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Limitations

• other conditions for membership are not
  considered
• not all forms of human rights issues in Turkey
  are addressed
• comparison with other states, and their
  accession path is limited

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Historical Context Of Human Rights In The EU

• In history human rights issues to the EU, for
  external relations with other states, were not a
  priority
• The EU was not alone, the United Nations also
  were against the intervention into the affairs of
  other states
• With the closing period of the Cold War
  expectations started to change, good governance
  measures emerged

Time was running out for Turkey Human rights
emerged had as an issue that they could not avoid
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The Long Way Into Accession Negotiations

• 1987 was Turkeys first application for candidate
  status it was rejected
• 1997 application again rejected, but 11 other
  applicants were successful
• 1999 given candidate status, but deemed too early
  for accession talks
• Late 2000 an Accession Partnership Document was
  established for Turkey
• Finally in October 2005 Accession Negotiations
  began

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• The Union is founded on the principles of
  liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and
  fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law,
  principles which are common to the Member States
• Article 6 (1) Treaty of the European Union
• Issues considered further
• Prohibition of torture
• Freedom of expression information
• Cultural, religious and linguistic freedom

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Torture And Efforts To See It Eradicated

• Human Rights Watch reported
• In the mid 1990s torture was considered a
  routine practice, also death squad style killings
  were often reported (with 423 in 1994 alone)
• By 2005 they stated the biggest success for the
  year was sustained efforts against torture
• BUT
• EU 2005 Enlargement Strategy Paper in November
  2005 highlighted concerns
• Implementation of reforms can be patchy

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Freedom Of Speech Changes A Must

• Mid 1995 people were repressed, faced censorship,
  torture, and even imprisonment for the practice
  of free speech
• Improvements are evident but still problems exist
• In 2004, Amnesty International reported a high
  number of complaints, with excessive force at
  demonstrations. People were even reported as
  being beaten and sprayed with pepper gas even
  after they had been apprehended
• Even recently Orhan Pamuk faced charges of
  insulting Turkishness

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The Case Of The Kurds

• Language, cultural, and minority rights
• Kurdish leaders have been jailed, killed, and
  disappeared
• Language rights were banned
• EU has made it clear action is needed
• 2004 saw many reforms come through
• Now, language bans mainly lifted
• Freedoms exist but still room for more

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The Likelihood Of Accession

• Turkeys efforts so far show promise to continual
  change
• Implementation of reforms is a problem that would
  need to be addressed
• EU has not stepped down its criticisms, and is
  still a driving force in promoting reform within
  Turkey
• It would take time and is in Turkeys hands in
  regards to fulfilling human rights expectations

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