Call to Link Customs Union Upgrade to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

The European Parliament has sent a clear message to Ankara, calling on the Turkish government to take concrete steps to unlock long-stalled Schengen visa liberalisation and to address what lawmakers describe as a continued erosion of the rule of law.

In a new draft report on EU–Turkey relations, MEPs urge the authorities in Ankara to finally meet the remaining conditions for visa-free travel and to demonstrate genuine political will to revive Turkey’s frozen accession process.

Six outstanding Schengen criteria

The draft recalls that Turkey and the EU agreed back in 2013 on a roadmap consisting of 72 benchmarks for visa liberalisation, six of which still remain unfulfilled more than a decade later.​

Among the outstanding criteria are bringing Turkey’s anti-terror legislation into line with European standards on freedom of expression, concluding an operational cooperation agreement with Europol, and fully implementing anti‑corruption recommendations issued by the Council of Europe’s GRECO body.​

The report also highlights the need to align personal data protection rules with EU norms, strengthen judicial cooperation with member states in criminal matters, and ensure the full and effective application of the EU–Turkey Readmission Agreement in the fight against irregular migration.​

‘Lack of genuine political will’

While noting that Turkish leaders frequently reiterate their commitment to EU membership, the text argues that the government has failed to remedy long‑standing shortcomings in both the accession negotiations and the visa dialogue.​

MEPs point to what they describe as a “continued erosion” of judicial independence, the rule of law and fundamental rights, naming persistent non‑implementation of rulings by the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights as emblematic of the problem.​

According to the draft, this situation undermines the credibility of Turkey’s membership perspective and raises serious concerns over the country’s adherence to its international obligations.​

Call on EU to ‘raise its voice’

The report does not only criticise Ankara. It also takes aim at EU institutions and member states, arguing that their response to democratic backsliding and rights violations in Turkey has been too muted and inconsistent.​

MEPs call on the EU to adopt a clearer and more principled stance on human rights, media freedom, and the shrinking space for civil society, including the rights of women and LGBTI+ people, and to “raise its voice” more forcefully when court decisions and fundamental freedoms are disregarded.​

Customs Union under conditions

Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shifting regional dynamics, the draft underlines that the EU and Turkey continue to share important strategic interests, especially in trade, energy and security.​

The text restates support for the modernisation of the EU–Turkey Customs Union, but insists that any upgrade must be strictly conditioned on respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and international law, and must not be treated as a purely technical or economic exercise.​

Positive notes on refugees and dialogue with Greece

Despite its generally critical tone, the draft also acknowledges areas where the EU and Turkey have cooperated constructively.​

It notes that Turkey continues to host around two million refugees and migrants, carrying a significant burden on behalf of the international community, and welcomes the recent efforts to stabilise relations and maintain dialogue with neighbouring Greece.​

On Cyprus, the report reiterates support for a bi‑communal, bi‑zonal settlement in line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and calls for renewed negotiations under UN auspices.​
-BBC

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