By Batuhan Üsküp
The EU's perception of political elites and society in Turkey has taken a very negative turn in recent years. The main culprit of this state of affairs is the fact that the AKP, which has been ruling the country for two decades, has been administering the country in an authoritarian way for almost the last ten years. However, the negative perception that the EU has of Turkish society is not limited to this authoritarian trend. According to the research survey of the GMF, although the EU represents a way out for the Turkish youth, most of the people continue to look at the EU with suspicion. These are the latest developments, the current problems in Turkey-EU relations and how Turkey lost its EU scope.
On 25/26 March 2021, the European Council convened. Amongst the topics covered, Turkey was also discussed. Joseph Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security, had already stated that he was seeking to advance a positive agenda with Turkey, provided that it is "gradual, conditional and reversible", in light of the Summit Conclusions released.
The relations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey reached their historic peak with the start of accession negotiations in 2005. However, over time, they deteriorated with President Erdogan even insulting EU leaders.
The relations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey reached their historic peak with the start of accession negotiations in 2005. However, over time, they deteriorated with President Erdogan even insulting EU leaders. Today, relations are limited to EU-Turkey Deal on migration, which is highly controversial in terms of morality, and visa-free travel to the EU, which will be the most meaningful outcome of this agreement for the Turkish people. Nonetheless, the latter element has not been realised yet and will not be implemented in the foreseeable future. Turkey has been portrayed as the country that blocks the immigrants in return for the money that it received from the EU, takes them back if necessary and, if necessary, uses this situation as a trump card to blackmail the block. It is a very painful indication of this that in February 2020, refugees were piled into the Greek border by Turkey and left at the mercy of Greek border security
Despite this very dramatic situation, during the March 2021 European Council Summit, the EU showed its satisfaction with the agreement and claimed that it should continue and develop. Nonetheless, the Turkish public should make this issue a priority on their agenda: They should question both the moral aspect of this agreement and why the promises made were not fulfilled, as the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also observed. Beyond that, it should also come to the fore why the EU's relations with a candidate country negotiating are being squeezed into such an agreement.
Nonetheless, the Turkish public should make this issue a priority on their agenda: They should question both the moral aspect of this agreement and why the promises made were not fulfilled, as the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also observed.
Eastern Mediterranean Question
In the final declaration published after the Council, the EU stated that it was in its strategic interest to develop cooperation with Turkey on a stable and secure Eastern Mediterranean. The Council was satisfied that Turkey had taken a step back in its drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the country resumed bilateral talks with Greece, changes that “were welcomed”. Significantly, in previous Conclusions on the same topics the EU had used a very superior and threatening style, that hardly matches with what one would expect that the EU uses in its dialogue with a candidate country, especially one with which it is negotiating. Turkey had been accused of illegal transactions in the Eastern Mediterranean but the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had dismissed the accusatory toned with few sentences of principality. When we look at the concrete case, Turkey has been operating here in the past but now it is completely withdrawn.
Significantly, in previous Conclusions on the same topics the EU had used a very superior and threatening style, that hardly matches with what one would expect that the EU uses in its dialogue with a candidate country, especially one with which it is negotiating.
It was underlined that the steps to be taken by Turkey in the next 3 months will be taken and more detailed and substantial decisions will be taken at the June summit. In addition, the European Commission was instructed to seek ways to provide financial aid to 4 million Syrian migrants in Turkey, to help the country contribute positively to regional solutions to the crisis in Libya, Syria and the South Caucasus. Other points of priority were that Turkey should address its serios decline in human rights protection, democracy, law and women’s rights. In addition, the list of collaborations to be developed will include public health, Covid-19, the climate crisis, the fight against terrorism and regional issues.
In addition, the idea of an update in the Customs Union agreement was given the green light. In this context, the Commission was instructed to start negotiations with Turkey in order to overcome the difficulties.
Customs Union
The Turkish side should both reject this style and publicly explain Turkey's disadvantages and expected improvements in the Customs Union. Otherwise, the public cannot understand what is being discussed and what is asked for.
Improvement in the Customs Union is one of Turkey's most important short-term expectations from the EU. This issue was also mentioned in the concluding declaration of the Council, but it was linked to Turkey's activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, the Customs Union expresses a deep-rooted relationship for both sides, and indexing the issues here to another problem is very problematic in terms of method. The Turkish side should both reject this style and publicly explain Turkey's disadvantages and expected improvements in the Customs Union. Otherwise, the public cannot understand what is being discussed and what is asked for. Additionally, there are several problems in the Customs Union for Turkey, including the fact that the country cannot take part in EU decision-making mechanisms. Discussions on transport quotas for Turkish transporters and questions of services and agricultural products also emerged.
Transatlantic Relations
The European Council also gave important clues in terms of transatlantic relations. In his meeting with the EU Commission on Thursday, 25 March 2021, Anthony Blinken pointed out that the cooperation between NATO and the EU is more important than ever, and in addition, pointing to Turkey, Hungary and Poland, he said that the allies of the USA and the EU are following wrong policies. He emphasized that relations should be developed again. This shows that despite the bad language and distrust towards Turkey, the USA and the EU still see Turkey as an important partner and have expectations to stay that way. Both sides are aware that they need each other and that cooperating on many issues will have positive consequences for both sides.
The Council meeting showed that EU-Turkey relations have fallen to a level far below that of a candidate country negotiating with the Union, and its scope has become very narrow. When we look at the Turkey-EU relations in their current form, certain privileges and questions that have been compartmentalized still remain, but the future scope is in a blunted dimension. In the short run, the favourable expectations for the development or re-start the talks between Turkey and the EU, are locked on the possible regime change in Turkey.
In the short run, the favourable expectations for the development or re-start the talks between Turkey and the EU, are locked on the possible regime change in Turkey.
Batuhan Üsküp Batuhan Üsküp is a senior at Hacettepe University, majoring in International Relations. He is interested in foreign policy, European Union affairs, and Turkish politics. He is enthusiastic to analyse the developments especially foreign policy issues in the region and in the world. He is particularly interested in lobbying, think tanks and civil society issues. He is contributing to Turkey Recap newsletter and is a member of Turkish Political Science Association.
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