What happened in Varna? (31.03.2018)

Aslı Aydıntaşbaş

Thanks to the elimination, one by one, of the foreign policy writers who were well versed on the European Union process, I am left reading the slipshod reports about the EU summit that was held in the Bulgarian city of Varna. The television is abuzz with comments like the right to visa-free travel in Europe seemingly being within an inch of our grasp or the European Union process seemingly having regained impetus. However, look at what did and did not happen in Varna.

THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS THAT PHOTOGRAPH: The Varna summit was held at Ankara’s insistence and through the efforts of the EU term president Bulgaria. The Europeans came to the talks with exceptionally low expectations. There is a resolve in the European Union to keep relations with Turkey in the “deep freeze” until Turkey returns to human rights and the norms of the rule of law. The EU road is closed for as long as Turkey fails to “normalise”. At the meeting of the EU Council held a few days before the Varna summit, all EU countries passed a joint resolution and described Turkey’s stance in the sea off Cyprus as “illegal” and called for the release of the detained Greek soldiers. As things stand, the most important aspect of this summit was that it was held at all.

REFUGEE AGREEMENT CONTINUES: Another achievement of the summit from Ankara’s point of view was the promise it secured that the pledged second three-billion-euro tranche under the refugee agreement made with the EU in 2016 would be effected. This agreement received a lot of criticism at the time. It is common knowledge that Turkey is charging Europe for keeping the Syrian refugees here. Turkey getting material support in return for sheltering three and a half million refugees is good. But, I am afraid this defines the new shape of relations between Turkey and the EU. We are a neighbour having two-way monetary dealings with Europe; however, we are not in the EU club. The Europeans want to see plans and itemised expenditure to enable this amount to be paid. Our government objects to this and blurts out, “I’ll send you the IBAN and you make the transfer.” But the EU is a tight-fisted structure, while Turkey needs this money. It is thus clear that the three-billion-euro aid package will be distributed under Europe’s rules.

ROAD TO EUROPE CLOSED: The most important aspect of the summit for me was the terminology used with reference to Turkey. If the truth need be told, we heard quite clearly at Varna that Turkey’s EU road is closed. How? Let me fill you in. I have been following Turkey’s EU adventure as a journalist since 2004. In the past, at such summits, it would be confirmed that Turkey had the status of “candidate” for “full membership”, “enlargement” would be spoken of and even if expectations from Turkey were listed, this would be described as forming part of the “membership process”. This time, there was word neither of “full membership” nor the negotiation process. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in his statement that Turkey was the European Union’s “ally” and “strategic partner”. What does this mean? It means, “You are not one of us but we want to maintain close dealings with you.” It means, “We have shut the door to membership.” It means that, henceforth, a strategic partnership like the one between Turkey and the US may be created between Turkey and Europe, but “membership” is not on. EU Council President Donald Tusk, for his part, referred to Turkey in one place as being a “candidate country”. (Turkey had promised, as a candidate country, to promote democracy to its highest level and keep it there.) However, he noted that Turkey had subsequently not done this. In replying to questions, he said quite bluntly that absolutely no “progress” had been recorded in this regard. Nobody uttered a single word about Turkey’s membership or opening the frozen negotiations; there was not the slightest mention that “full membership” might be at the end of the road.

ERDOĞAN’S MANNER: In spite of all this, President Erdoğan’s manner was tempered in a way that we have not at all witnessed in recent times. In greeting the media, speaking of the EU process and setting out Turkey’s end goals, we were confronted, not with the Erdoğan of rally grounds, but a sweet-talking Erdoğan. But, I imagine it is already too late for this. As the President has put it, “The taker of the horse has passed Üsküdar.” The residue of the quarrels waged with Germany last summer, Turkey’s dogged refusal to return to the Copenhagen Criteria and democracy and the perception of Turkey in European public opinion have put an end to this process.

For just this reason, I was filled with sorrow while observing the press conference. I fear that the door to Europe has been shut never to open again.

 http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/koseyazisi/950136/Varna_da_ne_oldu_.html