EU requires pragmatic, wise response to Turkey paradox

EU sanctions on Turkey would open deepen the country's problems instead of encouraging democracy, the secretary-general of the Turkish Industry and Business Foundation (TÜSİAD) has said, noting that the bloc must wisely and pragmatically manage this paradox.

"Acting negatively will further deepen the problems, and it won't be a solution. There won't be fewer cases of human rights violations or democratic concerns in Turkey," Bahadır Kaleağası said.

Tell us, where are Turkish-EU relations heading?

There are two observations: one is that Turkish-EU relations are victims of homemade problems both in Turkey and the European Union. The second: so many things are changing with globalization, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital that within a few years, the main parameters of EU-Turkey relations will have changed as well.

It is amazing to see; both sides got a test result in the laboratory of history that was so positive for both sides. Why, despite this test result, did they try another recipe?

Let me explain: Between 1995 and 2005, both sides tested a policy of convergence. When the customs union was approved, there was the death penalty in Turkey; there were prisoners of opinion, Kurdish MPs were in jail and there were significant cases of torture. But the customs union added value for both sides economically, but it was also a leverage for democracy and human rights. 

Conditionality worked well; Turkey became a candidate in 1999. This was a great historical success in transforming Turkey into a convergence of interest between the EU and Turkish citizens. Turkey was engaged in the sphere of influence of the EU and this was defined by democracy, economy, security, energy and so on.
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