AP, A leaked EU report on Turkey's readiness to join the European Union, which underlines failings including the army's continued influence in government, sparked anger in Ankara on Friday.
The European Commission, which is due to publish annual reports on 10 incoming members next Wednesday, also laments that the scope of some reforms has been “considerably narrowed,” according to the draft report seen by AFP.
“Turkey does not fully meet the political criteria,” it said, referring to the conditions set for Turkey to begin talks on joining the currently 15-member bloc, which is due to expand to 25 next year.
“Important restrictions remain notably to freedom of expression .. freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, freedom of religion and the right to legal redress,” it said.
The EU has long rebuffed mainly-Muslim Turkey's application to join the Union on the grounds of lack of political reforms to meet EU standards, notably in the area of human rights and concerning treatment of the Kurdish minority.
But last December it agreed to take a decision at the end of 2004 on whether to start entry talks, but made it clear that this was dependent on progress in implementing the promised reforms.
Brussels' latest assessments will make bleak reading in Ankara.
In particular it said that the “armed forces continue to enjoy a substantial degree of autonomy in preparing and establishing the defence budget and in public procurement in the defence-related area,” said the draft.
“The armed forces in Turkey exercise influence through a series of informal mechanisms,” it added.
Ankara passed a swathe of new reformist legislation in the run-up to a landmark EU summit in Copenhagen last December, in a concerted campaign to secure an invitation to start EU accession talks.
The EU welcomed the new laws, but repeatedly insisted that the key test would be whether they were implemented on the ground.
The latest report is less than glowing in its assessment of that.
“In some cases, the measures drawn up by executive bodies responsible for the implementation of specific aspects of the political reforms… have considerably narrowed the scope of these reforms,” it says.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted angrily to the leaked contents of the report.
“They say this and that concerning the implementation of reforms. But that's all just poor excuses,” he said, adding that it was not essential for all the required reforms to be completed before Turkey starts EU membership talks.
“(Reforms) can begin before the start of talks and continue side by side with the negotiation process,” he said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was more sanguine about the EU report, saying it was “objective”. “The report stresses deficiencies, notably in terms of implementation. We are aware of these deficiencies,” Gul said.
EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen said on Monday EU leaders might not give an unconditional 'yes' or 'no' on starting membership talks with Turkey when they meet in December 2004.
On other key areas, the Brussels commission — which could in theory still amend the report before publication — highlighted continued concerns notably over the use of torture.
“Concerns continue to be expressed with respect to the punishment of perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment. Cases continue to be dropped after trials are discontinued due to an elapse of time,” it said.
