UPDATE 3 - EU report on Turkey focuses on coup attempt

UPDATES WITH QUOTES FROM EU COMMISSIONER

By Hasan Esen

BRUSSELS (AA) - The circumstances surrounding the defeated July 15 coup dominated a report released Wednesday on Turkey’s progress in joining the EU.

The annual assessment noted the attempt to overthrow the government “represented a direct attack on democracy in Turkey” and said the EU had “strongly and immediately” condemned the bid by some sections of the military to seize power.

However, it said the “scale and collective nature” of measures taken by the government since the failed coup -- arrests and detentions, dismissals and suspensions over alleged links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- led to EU calls for Turkey to “observe the highest standards in respecting the rule of law and fundamental rights”.

The report added: “Any allegation of wrongdoing should be established via transparent procedures in all individual cases. Individual criminal liability can only be established with full respect for the separation of powers, the full independence of the judiciary and the right of every individual to a fair trial, including through effective access to a lawyer.”

It said several key pieces of legislation regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights, such as data protection, were not in line with European standards.

Wednesday's report also described the lifting of parliamentary immunity and the subsequent arrest and imprisonment of lawmakers from the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party as “a matter of grave concern”.

The EU also noted the suspensions and arrests of some local elected officials in Turkey’s southeast under emergency powers introduced after the coup attempt. The conflict in the southeast could only be solved by political means, the report added.

There had been “serious backsliding” over the past year on freedom of expression, the report claimed.

- Terrorism, reform, Cyprus

However, Turkey’s EU Minister Omer Celik criticized the report as having been “written with a sense of not to serve… Turkey-EU relations”, and said it was “far from the spirit of accession negotiations”.

Celik told a news conference in the capital Ankara the report should have consolidated Turkey’s relationship with the EU, offered guidance and constructive advice and paved the way for negotiations.

Instead, Celik said, the document failed to properly evaluate Turkey’s fight against terrorism and progressive steps towards reform.

“We do not accept the viewpoint that disproportionate force is used in the fight against the PKK,” he said, referring to the terrorist organization recognized as such by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.

Referring to reforms needed to qualify for EU accession, the report said Turkey was “moderately prepared” in public administration reform while the judiciary was at an early stage of preparation, although there had been “backsliding” following the attempted coup.

Corruption remains “prevalent in many areas and continues to be a serious problem,” the report claimed.

In the fight against terrorism, plans to tackle illegal financing were in place and Turkey had stepped up its involvement in the international coalition against Daesh.

Turkey continues to support talks for a Cyprus settlement, for which its contribution “remains crucial”, the report added.

In the economic sphere, Turkey’s economy is “well advanced and can be considered a functioning market economy”, although a large foreign deficit makes it vulnerable to financial uncertainty, changes in investors’ sentiment and political risks.

The report said Turkey was well-prepared to cope with EU market forces.

- Fight against PKK, Daesh

Regarding the fight against terrorism, the report said Turkey had been struck by several large-scale deadly terrorist attacks attributed to the PKK and Daesh, which were promptly condemned by the EU.

Pointing out that Turkey "has a legitimate right to defend itself against such terrorist violence", the EU warned that measures taken needed to be proportionate.

"Turkey has been giving priority to the PKK, particularly following a severe surge of violence in the country since July 2015," the EU said, adding that Turkey had addressed the terrorist threat from Daesh "more vigorously".

Recalling that Turkey joined the international coalition to counter Daesh in September 2014, the EU said terrorist attacks by Daesh caused Ankara to strengthen its engagement with the coalition and to launch several airstrikes plus Operation Euphrates Shield against Daesh positions in Syria.

"Turkey also maintained an agreement with the U.S. on the use of the Incirlik base for coalition forces," the EU said. "Turkey has improved its means of combating the financing of terrorism."

However, the EU criticized Turkey's anti-terror laws and claimed their implementation was "not in line with the acquis".

- Refugees

Praising Turkey's outstanding efforts to provide shelter to about three million refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries, the report said an agreement on March 14 between Ankara and the EU "delivered many of its expected results".

"However," the report added, "success remains fragile so far".

The EU recommended Turkey over the coming year to continue to implement the refugee deal plus an EU-Turkey readmission agreement. It also said personal-data protection had to be in line with European standards and cooperation established with Europol.

Wednesday’s report also called for Turkey to bring its anti-terror legislation in line with European practices.

- Turkey's EU membership talks

Johannes Hahn, EU commissioner for neighborhood policy and enlargement negotiations, said in a press conference in Brussels the future of membership negotiations with Turkey would be discussed during the foreign ministers’ meeting in December.

"Turkey is an important country. We have to be in touch with Turkey. But some countries have their statements and they are not secret," Hahn said.

Hahn stated consensus among member states was needed.

"Member states should discuss and decide. Personally, I want to be authorized to discuss this issue with our Turkish friends," he said.

Additionally, the commissioner spoke about the “threats” linked to Turkey's option to withdraw from the refugee agreement.

"It is not the first time that we are hearing these threats. To be honest, there is a discourse like that. But these kinds of discourses will not help. These discourses are not habitual between friends and partners," Hahn added.

Separately, Hahn did not answer Anadolu Agency correspondent's question about EU supporting terrorism.

"Turkey accuses EU of supporting terrorist organizations. But you reject this claim. If you don't support terrorist organizations, why do the terrorist organization leaders live in EU countries and why do their channels broadcast from EU countries?" Anadolu Agency correspondent had asked.

The EU official did not answer this question. However, he said, the PKK was a terrorist organization, adding: "This has a great number of negative results in EU territory as well."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called on the EU to make a final decision on Turkey’s accession to the union.

Speaking ahead of the annual EU report assessing Turkey’s progress on EU membership and visa-free travel due later in the day, Erdogan said: “They shamelessly say that Turkey’s EU negotiations should be reviewed. You are late. Review it as soon as possible.

“But do not just review, make your final decision.”

Turkey applied to join the union in 1987 and negotiations began in 2005. As part of a deal agreed last year to stem the tide of refugees to Europe, Turkey was promised a relaxation of travel restrictions for its nationals and an acceleration of its membership application.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondents Sibel Ugurlu and Can Erozden contributed to this report from Ankara