Eurocommissaris Verheugen bezorgd over mensenrechten in Turkije (en)

Four months before a crucial Commission report on Turkey's chances to enter the EU, enlargement commissioner Günter Verheugen said yesterday (17 June) that the human rights situation in Turkey still leaves a lot to be desired.

Speaking before the think-tank "Friends of Europe" in Brussels, Mr Verheugen said that despite progress made, "negative events remain" with respect to Turkey's democracy and human rights record.

By mid-October, the Commission will assess in a key report whether Turkey fulfils the EU's democracy and human rights criteria - a formal precondition for Ankara to start accession talks with the EU.

But Mr Verheugen signalled that it is still far from clear whether this report will give the actual go-ahead for talks. He stated:

"There continues to be court cases against people expressing non violent opinion. There is evidence that human rights defenders are still subject to harassment and intimidation from the authorities".

The Commissioner went on to say that "although the scale of torture has been reduced, there are still reports of cases of ill-treatment including torture, in particular in custody".

He added that "the situation of women is still far from satisfactory".

"There appears to be little progress towards a systematic solution of the problems faced by non-Muslim communities".

"Turkey is a candidate country"

On the other hand, Mr Verheugen also underlined that the status of Turkey as a candidate EU member state is not up for discussion anymore.

"Turkey is a candidate country. This was confirmed by the heads of states and Governments in Helsinki in December 1999".

"The issue we face is therefore not whether Turkey can be a member of the EU, but whether and when negotiations on the accession of Turkey can begin".

Mr Verheugen's comments follow recently expressed statements by politicans, notably in France, Germany and Austria, saying that Turkey should not become a member of the EU at all.

Is the EU ready for Turkey?

The enlargement Commissioner's spokesman told the EUobserver that the Commission is also to present a separate study along with its report in October, which will assess the consequences of Turkey's accession for the EU itself.

Mr Verheugen referred to this study in his speech while stating: "On its side, the EU will also have to examine whether it is ready for Turkey's accession".

He added: "This would fundamentally affect many policy areas and the functioning of the EU institutions".

But Mr Verheugen's spokesman declined to say whether the Commission is therefore considering the need for an extra round of institutional reforms - even after the EU Constitution - as some voices in the debate have proposed.

After the release of the crucial Commission report in October, EU leaders will decide in December whether or not to start formal accession negotiations with Ankara.