The European Commission’s ‘Türkiye Report’ included in the 2024 Enlargement Package has been shared with the public.
The 2024 Enlargement Package, which includes the European Commission’s latest assessments regarding Türkiye, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine, and Moldova, was announced at a press conference held in Brussels by Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, and Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
In the 2024 Türkiye Report, the European Commission addressed visa liberalization, stating, ‘None of the highlighted criteria under the visa liberalization roadmap have been met. Türkiye still needs to further align its legislation with the EU acquis regarding visa policy.’
“The report begins with the statement, ‘Türkiye is a key partner and candidate country for the EU,’ emphasizing that developing a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye is in the strategic interest of the EU.
It is noted in the report that Türkiye hosts ‘one of the largest refugee populations in the world,’ and according to official sources, the number of Syrians granted Turkish citizenship in 2023 was lower than in the previous year, with voluntary returns accelerating.
The report states that the EU-Türkiye Migration Agreement continues to be the main framework for cooperation, and that collaboration in combating irregular migration has been ‘efficient and result-oriented.’
The report also addresses the EU-Türkiye visa liberalization dialogue, asserting that ‘none of the highlighted criteria under the visa liberalization roadmap have been met. Türkiye still needs to further align its legislation with the EU acquis regarding visa policy.’
Furthermore, the report indicates that the EU places importance on progress towards a solution to the Cyprus issue in order to further enhance cooperation with Türkiye.
It recalls that the accession negotiations have been at a standstill since 2018, claiming that there are serious concerns regarding democratic standards, the rule of law, judicial independence, and fundamental rights.
The report criticizes Türkiye regarding human rights and fundamental rights, stating, ‘The Turkish legal framework contains general guarantees for respect for human rights and fundamental rights, but the legislation and its implementation need to be aligned with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).’
The report states that Türkiye hosts ‘one of the largest refugee populations in the world,’ and according to official sources, the number of Syrians granted Turkish citizenship in 2023 was lower than in the previous year, with voluntary returns accelerating.
It is noted in the report that the EU-Türkiye Migration Agreement continues to be the main framework for cooperation, and that collaboration in combating irregular migration has been ‘efficient and result-oriented.’
The report also addresses the EU-Türkiye visa liberalization dialogue, asserting that ‘none of the highlighted criteria under the visa liberalization roadmap have been met. Türkiye still needs to further align its legislation with the EU acquis regarding visa policy.'”