European Parliament Approves Turkey Report, Warns 'Window of Opportunity Closing'

The European Parliament has adopted a report on Turkey's European Union membership bid, signaling a critical stance on the country's democratic progress. The resolution, passed with a significant majority, highlights a perceived "window of opportunity" closing for Turkey due to its "lack of democratic reforms."

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Due to the lack of democratic reforms in Turkey, it is missing this window of opportunity at a time when the EU enlargement policy is gaining new momentum.

A key point of contention in the report is the call for sanctions against Turkish officials implicated in "serious and deliberate violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms." Specifically, the report names Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, formerly the chief prosecutor in Istanbul, suggesting restrictive measures including asset freezes under the EU's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The parliament expressed "dismay" at Gürlek's appointment, characterizing him as a political actor consistently pursuing a political agenda.

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We reiterate our call to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (Kaja Kallas) for the assessment of the application of restrictive measures, including the freezing of assets in the EU, against Turkish officials responsible for serious and deliberate violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Despite Turkey's repeated affirmations of commitment to EU accession, the report asserts that fundamental issues hindering the process remain unaddressed. Members of the European Parliament urged Ankara to rectify deficiencies in the rule of law, human rights, democratic standards, and press freedom. The report also called on Turkey to respect good neighborly relations and international law, alleging continued violations of the sovereign rights of Greece and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

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Among these officials are those who have taken on the role of trustee and those who appointed them or play a key role in the state's repressive apparatus, for example, the former Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

The resolution also directed criticism towards EU institutions and member states for their limited response to developments in Turkey, urging a more robust defense of democratic standards and the rule of law. While acknowledging Turkey's strategic and geopolitical importance and its status as a NATO ally, the report underscores that the accession process has been effectively stalled since 2018. The rapporteur, Nacho Sánchez Amor, argued that Turkey is rapidly moving towards a "fully authoritarian model," citing recent cases targeting the main opposition party as part of a broader erosion of democratic pluralism and the rule of law.

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We express our dismay at the appointment of Akın Gürlek as Minister of Justice, which reveals that the situation is that of a political actor who has always followed a political agenda throughout his career.