Contemporary issues European Union–Turkey relations

1 contemporary issues

1.1 developing customs union
1.2 eu pre-accession support turkey
1.3 turkey persecuting political dissenters terrorists
1.4 eu-turkey deal on migrant crisis
1.5 visa liberalisation process

contemporary issues

european commissioner johannes hahn turkey s eu minister Ömer Çelik, july 2017

relations turkey deteriorated after 2016–17 turkish purges, including suppression of media freedom , arrests of journalists, country s turn authoritarianism under akp , erdoğan. on 24 november 2016 european parliament voted suspend accession negotiations turkey on human rights , rule of law concerns, decision not binding. on 13 december, european council (comprising heads of state or government of member states) resolved open no new areas in turkey s membership talks in prevailing circumstances , turkey’s path toward autocratic rule makes progress on eu accession impossible. of 2017, , following erdogan s victory in constitutional referendum, turkish accession talks have stopped.

developing customs union

the 1996 customs union between eu , turkey in view of both sides needs upgrade accommodate developments since conclusion; however, of 2017, technical negotiations upgrade customs union agreement advantage of both sides complicated ongoing tension between ankara , brussels.

eu pre-accession support turkey

despite factual freeze on negotiations concerning turkey s eventual accession eu membership, turkey receives payments eu budget pre-accession support, 4.5 billion allocated 2014-2020 period (about 740 million euros per year). while european parliament voted in november 2016 suspend accession negotiations turkey on human rights , rule of law concerns, , called commission reflect on latest developments in turkey in review of funding program, alde faction explicitly called freezing of pre-accession funding. ep s rapporteur on turkey, kati piri, in april 2017 suggested funds should converted , concentrated support of losing no side in constitutional referendum, share european values , under tremendous pressure .

in june 2017, eu s financial watchdog, european court of auditors, said start probe how 1 billion euro eu funds turkey received since 2007 support rule of law, civil society, fundamental rights, democracy , governance spent. turkish media commented perhaps can explain why money apparently failed have slightest effect on efforts prevent deterioration of democracy in country.

turkey persecuting political dissenters terrorists

the increasing persecution of political dissenters alleged terrorists in turkey creates political tension between eu , turkey in both ways: while eu criticizes abuse of anti-terror rhetoric , legislation curb freedom of speech, recep tayyip erdogan accuses eu member countries eu whole of harboring terrorists giving save haven turkish citizens persecuted because of political opinions.

in april 2017, parliamentary assembly of council of europe (pace) voted reopen monitoring procedure against turkey. vote understood deal major blow turkey*s perspective of eventual eu membership, exiting process made precondition of eu accession negotiations in 2004.

eu-turkey deal on migrant crisis

syrian , iraqi refugees arrive turkey lesbos, greece

on 20 march 2016, eu-turkey deal tackle migrant crisis has formally come effect. under deal, migrants arriving in greece expected sent turkey if not apply asylum or claim rejected. influx of people crossing greek islands grew ahead of deadline, , greece said not able implement deal immediately. deal says every syrian migrant sent turkey, 1 syrian in turkey resettled in eu. however, there still many doubts implementation of agreement, including how migrants sent back. 2,300 experts, including security , migration officials , translators, set arrive in greece enforce deal. plan cannot put in place in 24 hours, said government migration spokesman giorgos kyritsis, quoted afp. deal, hoped people discouraged making dangerous journey sea turkey greece. in return, turkey receive aid , political concessions.

key points agreement

turkey s eu accession negotiations: both sides agreed re-energize turkey s bid join european bloc, talks due july 2016.
additional financial aid: eu speed allocation of €3bn ($3.3 bn; £2.3 bn) in aid turkey migrants.
visa liberalisation process: turkish nationals should have access schengen passport-free zone june 2016, provided tuerkey fulfills known conditions step (see section below). not apply non-schengen countries britain.
one-for-one: each syrian returned turkey, syrian migrant resettled in eu. priority given have not tried illegally enter eu , number capped @ 72,000.
returns: irregular migrants crossing turkey greece 20 march sent back. each arrival individually assessed greek authorities.

criticism

critics have said deal force migrants determined reach europe start using other , potentially more dangerous routes, such journey between north africa , italy. human rights groups have strong criticism deal, amnesty international accusing eu of turning on global refugee crisis . chatham house paper argued deal, excessively accommodating erdogan s demands, encouraging turkey extract more unilateral concessions in future.

visa liberalisation process

the eu commissioner of interior affairs cecilia malmström indicated on 29 september 2011 visa requirement turkish citizens discontinued. visa liberalisation ushered in several phases. initial changes expected in autumn of 2011, include reduction of visa paperwork, more multi-entry visas, , extended stay periods. in june 2012, eu authorised beginning of negotiations turkey on visa exemptions citizens. turkish eu minister egemen bağış stated expected process take 3–4 years. current visa policy of eu cause of concern turkish businessmen, politicians , turks family members in eu. egemen bağış described situation as: non-candidate countries such russia, ukraine, moldova , georgia negotiating visa-free travel. in september 2012, turkish economy minister zafer Çağlayan, during meeting @ wkÖ, said: have had customs union 17 years, , half of our (turkey s) external trade europe. our goods can move freely, visa required owner of goods. violation of human rights.

in december 2013, after signing readmission agreement, eu launched visa liberalisation dialogue turkey including roadmap towards visa-free regime . after november 2015 2015 g20 antalya summit held in antalya, turkey there new push forward in turkey s eu accession negotiations, including goal of lifting visa requirement turkish citizens. eu welcomed turkey s commitment accelerate fulfilment of visa roadmap benchmarks set forth participating eu member states. joint action plan drafted european commission developed roadmap benchmarks elimination of visa requirement. agreement called abolishing visas turkish citizens within year if conditions satisfied.

on 18 march 2016, eu reached migration agreement turkey, aiming @ discouraging refugees enter eu. under deal, turkey agreed take migrants enter greece, , send legal refugees eu. in exchange, eu agreed give turkey 6 billion euros, , allow visa-free travel turkish citizens end of june 2016 if turkey meets 72 conditions. in march 2016, eu assessed turkey @ time met 35 of necessary 72 requirements free visa travel throughout europe. in may 2016, number had risen 65 out of 72.

on 19 april 2016, jean-claude juncker said turkey must meet remaining criteria win visa-free access schengen area. turkish prime minister ahmet davutoglu argued turkey not support eu-turkey deal if eu did not weaken visa conditions june 2016. in may 2016, european commission said turkey had met of 72 criteria needed visa waiver, , invited eu legislative institutions of bloc endorse move visa-free travel turkish citizens within schengen area 30 june 2016. european parliament have approve visa waiver enter force , turkey must fulfil final 5 criteria. 5 remaining benchmarks still met turkey include:

turkey must pass measures prevent corruption, in line eu recommendations.
turkey must align national legislation on personal data protection eu standards.
turkey needs conclude agreement europol.
turkey needs work eu members on criminal matters.
turkey must bring terror laws in line european standards.

following brexit, strategy plans of eu suggest deeper integration between member states , closer , deeper ties turkey, signaling intent press ahead plans provide turks visa-free travel evaluated signal eu may give compromise turkey in remaining benchmarks visa liberation, namely anti-terror laws of turkey, following june 2016 istanbul airport bombing.