In an exclusive interview to BBC Turkish, following his visit to Turkey, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule noted that EU’s concerns over freedom of expression were growing. Fule underlined his expectation that the legislative amendment on this issue would be devised as part of the 3rd judicial reform package.
Emre Bal
BBC Turkish
15 JUNE 2012
BBC Turkish : Particularly following Nicolas Sarkozy's defeat in French elections a new enthusiasm can be observed in Turkey on EU negotiations. Do you think this enthusiasm would translate into tangible steps?
'Can not replace negotiations'
Fule: Yes, I am certain that there’s a new momentum in EU-Turkey relations. We have started to talk about positive agenda however I should mention it clearly that positive agenda can by no means replace negotiations. There’s no intention of establishing a parallel mechanism in relations either. This is rather a new philosophy in our perspective of our relations that is the relation between the EU and the negotiating candidate country. Moreover [Turkey] is a candidate country where political dialogue and political aspect of our relations become stronger. Positive agenda is a path to create the momentum that will put the accession negotiations in the right track. In other words it is not a bridge to pass over what we have at hand, but rather a bridge that will engage active EU-Turkey relations. It is something positive about the agenda and we have a lot in the agenda.
BBC Turkish: Do you think this Positive Agenda process will ensure any tangle progress?
Fule: Yes, for two reasons; what matters here is substance, rather than a political declaration. We have been working on multiple areas. Technical working groups are engaged in negotiations. We want to be sure that the EU remains to be the fundamental criteria for reforms in Turkey. Moreover we have been working on many areas such as trade, economy, visas, energy etc. Second is the process per se. This is not merely about a few diplomats or representatives of certain institutions meeting to talk about certain issues. It is rather about inclusion of all parties, furthermore of the important elements in the Turkish side into the process. This is what is particularly missing under the circumstances of the recent years whereby we have not been able to open any negotiations
'We are entitled to criticise Turkey'
BBC Turkish: In a recent interview, when reminded of EU’s criticism of freedom of speech in Turkey EU Minister Egemen Bağış had said; “EU authorities does not have the right to criticise Turkey on this issue. Do you know why? Because if the EU expects Turkey to take steps in this direction then they should remove barriers before chapters 23 and 24. They should put before us the opening criteria because these two chapters include work related to these issues. They fail to open chapters because the Greek Cypriot Administration wants so, yet they criticise Turkey." How do you react to this comment?
Fule: My reaction is very clear. We are entitled to criticise. The laws in Turkey do not safeguard freedom of press and freedom of expression. They do not comply with the EU acquis and various judgments of ECtHR. We repeatedly underlined these issues in our regular reports. Whenever possible, we bring up these issues during our contacts with our Turkish partners. My colleague and friend Egemen Bağış is right on one issue. The opening of chapters 23 and 24 on the judiciary and fundamental rights would provide a better framework for us to work together towards aligning the laws with the EU acquis rather than merely discussing them. For that reason, the first working group set up under the scope of the positive agenda was about chapter 23.
'We have increasing concerns about freedom of expression’
BBC Turkish: Last week, when you were in Turkey two students were sentenced to 8,5 years imprisonment on charges of carrying a placard about free education during the visit of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan. World wide famous Turkish pianist Fazıl Say was accused of blasphemy in Twitter. How does the Commission react to this and similar other developments?
Fule: Our reaction is again very clear. Last week, we held in Istanbul the 3rd political dialogue meeting since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. On the Turkish side, there was the Foreign Minister and the EU Minister, and on the EU side the EU High Representative and I participated. I brought this issue to the agenda during our meeting as well as in the press conference. I stated that the EU has increasing concerns about parliamentarians, academics and students in detention and on freedom of expression. We also emphasized another important issue in our political dialogue. We expressed our hope that the third judicial reform package would be adopted by the parliament soon. Because we hope that the outstanding legislative amendments would eventually be made. That is to say, a distinction should be made between freedom of expression and inciting violence. But in order to make that distinction certain amendments are required in the penal codes and anti-terror laws.
"Not only politicians, but the civil society, doctors and of course most importantly women should also debate abortion. Because this is primarily their issue.”
'The debate on abortion'
BBC Turkish: There is a lively debate on this issue in Turkey. What is the position of the Commission on this matter?
Fule: This is a sensitive issue. It is one of the issues that politicians should address extremely carefully. There is no EU regulation in this field. There is need for a broad debate on this matter. Not only politicians, but the civil society, doctors and of course most importantly women should also debate abortion. Because this is primarily their issue.”
'We are ready to help on the Kurdish issue
BBC Turkish: Last week Prime Minister Erdoğan and the leader of the main opposition Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met and discussed this issue. This was the first of its kind in Turkey. As the Commission, are you planning to extend political or financial support to these steps?
Fule: We stated on numerous occasions that the democratic opening initiative or any initiative should bring peace and stability to the southeast of Turkey. In this respect, we welcomed this step which seems to be a constructive meeting between the Prime Minister and the leader of the main opposition. Yes, we extend a lot of assistance to Turkey under the Pre-accession assistance programme. If there is the will on the Turkish side, the commission can provide assistance through certain programmes.
(translated from Turkish)
