Crunch Time in the EU-Turkey Relationship

During May 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has moved closer to an executive presidency and Turkey’s rule-of-law architecture has moved farther away from EU standards. Simultaneously, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced criticisms of Turkey’s policies, and Turkish leaders have responded with more threats to cancel the refugee deal Ankara sealed with the EU in March 2016. Because the Turkish president is going down the authoritarian road with new powers for himself and more restrictions on the rule of law, Turkey can no longer entertain the EU’s criteria, be they on visa liberalization or on accession.

The pretence behind the refugee deal may soon be over. How will the EU and Turkey do business with each other?

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 7 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-7-march-2016/

ESO: Background information: Merkel warns Erdogan his authoritarian drift endangers visa deal. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: No Turkey visa waiver, no refugee deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-warns-erdogan-his-authoritarian-drift-endangers-visa-deal-recep-tayyip-erdogan-no-turkey-visa-waiver-no-refugee-deal/

EUObserver, 06.06.16: EU-Turkey readmission deal in doubt https://euobserver.com/migration/133712

---