Seán Crowe
Question:424 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Turkey's human rights record; and his further views on whether it is improving. [19813/03]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Issues.
Seán Crowe
Question:425 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a Turkish application to join the EU while continuing human rights violations are taking place in the Turkish state. [19814/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.
I have been encouraged by the significant human rights reforms adopted by the Turkish Parliament over the past two years and the commitment of the Government to complete the remaining legislative work by the end of 2003. It is important now that the legislative reforms be fully implemented.
In 2002, Turkey adopted a series of human rights reforms which included legislation providing for the abolition of the death penalty, the abolition of torture and ill-treatment of people in custody and the lifting of restrictions on broadcasting in minority languages. Additional legislative packages approved this year include significant provisions for judicial reform, civilian control of the military, prison reform and the exercise of fundamental freedoms. I welcome these reforms and the mechanisms being put in place to monitor their implementation.
The December 2002 European Council reaffirmed that Turkey is a candidate country destined to join the European Union on the basis of the political criteria which apply to all candidate countries. These were laid down by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, and stipulate that a candidate country must achieve stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. The Commission prepares an annual report on Turkey's progress towards meeting these criteria, the most recent of which, for 2002, stated that the adoption of the human rights reforms "demonstrates the determination of the majority of Turkey's political leaders to move towards further alignment with the values and standards of the European Union". It noted that these reforms had been adopted under difficult political and economic circumstances and represented a major shift in the Turkish context.
The Copenhagen European Council last December gave the commitment that if the European Council in December 2004 decides that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations without delay. A crucial element in this decision will be the assessment of the improvement in the human rights situation and the effective implementation of the legislative reforms. We have explained to the government of Turkey that we will continue to pay close attention to developments.