Istanbul, May 12 () - Turkey must do more to fight corruption and enforce respect for media freedom, free expression and judicial independence, according to the Foreign Affairs Committee Members of European Parliament (MEP).
In a resolution on the progress of reform in Turkey in 2014, MEPs also urged the EU to back Turkey’s efforts to build solid, democratic institutions and ensure respect for fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law. Finally, it advocated stepping up EU/Turkey foreign policy cooperation.
The Turkish government had to commit itself "unequivocally" to respect democratic rules and principles, which were at the heart of the EU, MEPs said, inviting it to put the reform process at the centre of domestic policy choices.
A new constitution, based on provisions promoting a pluralistic, inclusive and tolerant society, would underpin such a process, they added.
MEPs encourage the Turkish government’s efforts to conclude, in a sustainable way, the peace process with the Kurdish community but regret the Turkish decision to build the Ilisu dam, which in a region mostly inhabited by Kurds, is expected to have "devastating" social, environmental and political effects on the Kurdish population.
Step up foreign policy cooperation and people-to-people contacts
EU-Turkey foreign policy cooperation and counter-terrorism dialogue had to be stepped up, and Turkey had to use all its resources, to fight terrorist groups such as ISIL, said MEPs. Turkey should also do more to prevent foreign fighters, money or equipment reaching ISIL and other extremist groups through its territory, they added.
To bring about a progressive alignment of foreign policies, Turkey’s foreign minister should be invited to EU foreign affairs Council meetings whenever relevant, MEPs suggested. They also suggested that, opening of the currently frozen EU accession talks chapter on security and defence would be useful to that end.
They also underlined that, more needs to be done to boost people-to-people contacts, not least through visa liberalisation, while the Turkish business people had to have easier access to visas and student exchanges should meanwhile be actively promoted.
Fight corruption, respect freedoms
Greater political will was needed to create a proper legal framework for the fight against corruption, MEPs saidx adding that they deeply regret failures to complete very serious corruption investigations in Turkey in December 2014.
The MEPs also raised their concern about the criminal proceedings brought against investigative journalists following these corruption cases and stress that the government had to guarantee media freedom "as a matter of priority."
Turkey’s "Law 6532" passed in 2014, rendered Turkish National intelligence Agency staff immune to legal proceedings and hence further undermines the freedom of the media and freedom of expression.
Turkish action against freedom of press and plurality of opinion is "incompatible with the fundamental rights of the EU" and "conflicts with a resumption of the negotiations process" the MEPs added.
