Piri: We will call for membership talks to be halted with Turkey

The European Parliament rapporteur to Turkey stated that; “The European Parliament’s attitude has not changed and sadly, the Turkish government has made no changes.”

Kati Piri, the European Parliament rapporteur to Turkey, spoke to Deutsche Welle Turkish service about the Turkey-EU relations after the June 24 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Commenting on the election results, Piri said the election campaign was not fair, adding; “The new presidential system means that the President will have authorities not seen in any democratic country. Even if President Erdogan becomes the greatest democrat of the world, separation of powers is a must for every politician. However, this is not the question in the new system.”

Asked how the election results have been met within the European Parliament, Piri said; “We stated last year, following the report of Venice Commission, that we would call for the suspension of Turkey’s EU accession talks formally in the event that the latest constitutional amendment be put into practice as it is. However, we have now come to that point. The European Parliament’s attitude has not changed and sadly, the Turkish government has made no changes. Under these conditions, the dream of being able to continue membership talks must be put off for at least the next five years. From our side, the red line has been crossed. In this year’s Turkey report we will definitely call for talks to be formally suspended.”

Piri continued; “You need to be a liberal democracy for EU membership. This means political representatives cannot appoint judges. If you look at the new constitution, the President rules the country through executive orders. He can enact laws without the Parliament or any other joint legislative organ. One person holding this much power is not a character of typical liberal democracy. As long as this constitution remains in force, and as long as the current conditions with regards to fundamental rights, human rights and minority rights in Turkey continue, we need to be honest and see that our relations cannot progress.”

Piri remarked that EU membership model is no more an option for Turkey, but added that the peoples of Turkey musn’t be isolated.

Asked “How can the Turkish government change this course?”, Piri answered; “To be honest, I am not optimistic that things will change suddenly after what we have said during the past two years have all been ignored.”