EU Doubts Turkey’s Readiness to Become a Bloc Member

The European Commission says that the situation with democracy, human rights and the independence of the judiciary is deteriorating in Turkey Turkey’s bid to join the EU may be in jeopardy after the bloc’s executive expressed disappointment at what it described as Ankara’s failure to maintain democracy and fight corruption. In its annual report on Turkey, the European Commission pointed out that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has concentrated too much political power in his hands, leading to a weak economy and undermining the independence of the judiciary. The report also says that the Turkish authorities continue to put pressure on civil society, humanitarian organizations and the media. “Turkey remains a key partner of the European Union. However, Turkey continues to drift away from the EU, seriously retreating in areas such as democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary,” the Commission said. For its part, Turkey, which began EU accession negotiations in 2005, has rejected criticism of the Commission, calling its findings biased.