Staff Working Document on ‘Turkey 2018 Report’

Summary:

Report published by the European Commission in April 2018, which assesses the progress undertaken in 2018 by Turkey, in the framework of the negotiations for accession to the European Union.

Further information:

The European Commission recognises in the report the need for swift and proportionate action in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in July 2016. However, the report also highlights that the country has been significantly moving away from the European Union, in particular in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights and through the weakening of effective checks and balances in the political system.

This report was published on 17 April 2018 alongside tha annual Enlargement package, which takes stock of progress in the implementation of enlargement policy. On 14 March 2019, the European Parliament's plenary session reacted to the annual report on Turkey. MEPs adopted a non-binding initiative recommending the suspension of the enlargement negotiations between the European Union and Turkey.

• Primary Source

News

Politico, 14/04/2018: Commission says Turkey made ‘big steps away’ from EU: Report https://www.politico.eu/article/recep-tayyip-erdogan-turkey-commission-says-turkey-made-big-steps-away-from-eu-report/

B92, 20/04/2018: Turkey accuses EU of 'favoring Balkan candidates' https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2018&mm=04&dd=20&nav_id=103989

Reuters, 21/02/2019: Turkey condemns European parliament committee call to suspend accession https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1QA0MC

Hürriyet Dauly News, 21/02/2019: Euro parliament report calling for suspension of Turkey’s accession unacceptable: Foreign Ministry http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/euro-parliament-report-calling-for-suspension-of-turkeys-accession-unacceptable-foreign-ministry-141376

Deutsche Welle, 13/03/2019: European Parliament votes to suspend Turkey's EU membership bid https://p.dw.com/p/3EzZL

Kathimerini, 13/03/2019: EU parliament calls for freeze on Turkey's membership talks http://www.ekathimerini.com/238549/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-parliament-calls-for-freeze-on-turkeys-membership-talks

Bloomberg, 13/03/2019: EU Parliament Says Turkey EU-Entry Talks Should Be Suspended https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-13/eu-parliament-calls-for-suspension-of-turkey-s-eu-entry-talks

Reuters, 13/03/2019: EU parliament calls for freeze on Turkey's membership talks https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1QU2LE

Cyprus Mail, 13/03/2019: EU parliament calls for freeze on Turkey’s membership talks https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/03/13/eu-parliament-calls-for-freeze-on-turkeys-membership-talks/

Kathimerini, 13/03/2019: ND says EU accession talks are 'leverage' for Turkey to reform http://www.ekathimerini.com/238550/article/ekathimerini/news/nd-says-eu-accession-talks-are-leverage-for-turkey-to-reform

Hürriyet Daily News, 14/03/2019: European Parliament's vote to halt accession process ‘meaningless, worthless’: Turkey http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/european-parliaments-vote-to-halt-accession-process-meaningless-turkey-141876

Anadolu Agency, 13/03/2019: EP’s vote to halt accession process ‘worthless': Turkey https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/ep-s-vote-to-halt-accession-process-worthless-turkey/1417300

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Official

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 17/04/2018: Key findings of the 2018 Report on Turkey http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3407_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/03/2019: Parliament wants to suspend EU accession negotiations with Turkey http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190307IPR30746/

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Initiative on 2018 Commission report on Turkey https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=&reference=2018/2150(INI)

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