Turkey’s bid to join EU in crisis after reforms axed

TURKEY’S bid to join the EU was in crisis last night as the European Commission warned that proposed penal reforms must be adopted by the government.

The reforms, which include a clampdown on police torture, abolishing reduced sentences for honour killings and giving equal rights to women, were withdrawn from parliament last week after almost all had been voted through.

Turkish commentators say this was because of pressure from Islamist conservatives in the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) who insisted a law criminalising adultery be reinstated into the bill of reforms.

The EU has warned against this step. The crisis comes just over two weeks before the commission is due to make its report on Turkey’s eligibility for EU membership.

Enlargement spokesperson Jean-Christophe Filori said yesterday the penal reforms must be adopted before the commission would recommend negotiations begin in its report due to be published on October 6.

Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheuygen called in the Turkish ambassador to the EU on Saturday to clarify the situation after the government withdrew the bill when 343 of the 346 articles had been voted through.

A response to the meeting is still being awaited from Ankara but Mr Verheuygen said over the weekend that this was a moment of truth for Turkey. “Turkey must reconcile Turkish and European values. European values are non-negotiable,” said Mr Verheuygen.

A major reform of the country’s 78-year-old penal code is necessary to bring it into line with EU demands that member states guarantee democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for a protection of minorities.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday and he is now expected to meet Mr Verheuygen also.

He has said he will reintroduce the bill when the parliament reconvenes on October 1, but commentators say there will not be enough time to pass the bill before the commission report six days later.

He has also told the EU not to interfere.

Mr Filori said: “It is not interference in Turkish affairs. It is the rule of the game if a country wants to be an EU member.”

Sources in Turkey say Mr Erdogan may try to introduce a watered-down version of the adultery ban together with the rest of the reform bill in time for the commission’s report.

EU leaders are expected to adopt whatever advice comes from the commission on Turkey’s eligibility.