But report slams Turkey’s reform record

The European Commission’s report on Turkey’s progress over the last 12 months shows that even without the complications of Cyprus, all is not well with Turkey’s bid to join the EU.

Although the Commission has finished assessing Turkey’s legal framework and has concluded negotiations on science and research, there is little progress in other areas of talks.

The report published yesterday (8 November) reflects this. Across the board Turkey is criticised for not enacting promised laws or for failing to change laws that do not meet the EU’s standards.

Addressing journalists shortly after the publication of the report, Olli Rehn, the enlargement commissioner, said that "the pace [of reform] has slowed".

The report criticises limitations to freedom of expression and the role of the army in Turkey.

Despite a number of measures to reduce the role of the military in politics, Turkey is criticised for failing to limit sufficiently the influence of the so-called deep state.

"The armed forces have continued to exercise significant political influence," the report states. "Senior members of the armed forces have expressed their opinion on domestic and foreign policy issues, including Cyprus, secularism [and] the Kurdish issue".

The Commission also criticises the government for failing to bring certain forces, such as the gendarmerie, under civilian control and for failing to develop parliamentary oversight over military spending.

These criticisms come at a sensitive time for civilian-military relations in Turkey. The ruling AK Party is expected to win another term in office during elections next November, but it is still treated with suspicion by the secular establishment, in particular the army, because of its Islamic roots. The two sides have clashed most notably over the wearing of headscarves in educational establishments.

Yasar Büyükan?t, who replaced Hilmi Özkök as the head of the general staff in August, is widely regarded as a secular hardliner compared with his predecessor. Büyükan?t is also said to be critical of what he sees as the EU’s role in undermining the foundations of the Turkish republic.

The EU is pressing for his political role to be further reduced.

The situation in the Kurdish south-east of the country is also giving the EU cause for concern.

The Commission reports that between November 2005 and June 2006, 774 terrorist attacks were reported in the area, largely due to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s resumption of its violent campaign for Kurdish autonomy.

The Commission also notes that it is still not possible to learn in any language other than Turkish in state schools and that elements of the latest government reform package allowed the state to keep wide-ranging powers to define terrorism.

The Commission also criticises article 301 of the penal code, which makes insulting ‘Turkishness’ a crime, arguing that the article creates "a climate of self-censorship". The Turkish government last weekend signalled it was ready to revise the article. Rehn said he expected that "words lead to deeds and without delay".

But Turkey’s economic performance is praised by the Commission, although the report notes that the current account deficit rose sharply to 6.3% of gross domestic product in 2005 and up again to 7% in the first half of this year, largely because of high oil prices and lower tourism revenues.

The European Commission’s report on Turkey’s progress over the last 12 months shows that even without the complications of Cyprus, all is not well with Turkey’s bid to join the EU.