Turkish-EU relations have gained new momentum since Turkey signed the EU's refugee action plan at a joint summit in Brussels on Nov. 29. It seems like the process of revitalizing Turkish-EU relations will continue by opening a new chapter for negotiations on Dec. 14 after a two-year hiatus and with more frequent visits from both the Turkish and EU sides.
Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkır has visited European capital Brussels twice since he was reappointed to the ministry and his frequent visits will continue in the coming days. Daily Sabah sat with Minister Bozkır in Brussels and spoke about the new era in Turkish-EU relations. The minister said that the EU-Turkey summit gives Turkey new responsibilities and underlined that they need to work harder in order to reach expectations. Refuting the allegations about the EU's refugee action plan, which assert that Turkey will receive the refugees in exchange for 3 billion euros biannually, Minister Bozkır stressed that after this agreement Turkey will cooperate with the EU to make immigration systematic.
You have visited Brussels for the second time in the last two weeks following your reappointment as EU minister in the new government. How would you evaluate your visit and the new momentum in Turkish EU relations?
As you said this is my second visit to Brussels and I think these meetings open a new era for relations between the EU and Turkey. The new paradigm has forced us to reshuffle the cards and this new era is going to provide us with a better understanding and more solidarity. Of course, dealing with the illegal migration and migration issue is not only problem for Turkey or Europe but it is, I think, a major difficulty the world is facing and I think we are approaching this not only from a political direction but as a humanitarian issue as well. We are very happy that after so many months Europe has understood that this issue cannot be only left on Turkey's shoulders but we have to work together, we have to think together in order to find solutions for today's important problem. This is taken in the summit and the working plan for migration flows will be implemented.
This Wednesday we are going to announce the government's six-month plan, the timetable for solving the problems. This will include reforms of the judiciary system, democratization for a better democratic life in Turkey plus there are 72 expectations bands to fulfill for Turkey to have visa reform. All these lows and secondary lows will be included in the actual bands and this following Thursday, the prime minister [Ahmet Davutoğlu] will be working on unification of the like-mind countries group. We will first check what has been done during the period to deal with the migration issue. We will be opening the 17th and 14th chapters and it will be the second chapter in five years to be opened, which of course will perhaps eliminate some of the broken hearts in Turkey and give us new impetus and energy to continue in this process together with the commission and we will start working on the other important chapters. We will reanalyze the work so that when political obstacles are removed in our region, we will be ready, will not lose any more time and will immediately put the prospects into life. I would like to underline that we are ready to listen to criticism and we will take into consideration all the criticisms that we believe are based on new facts and correct perceptions. Turkey has a new government and the government program clearly indicates that Turkey has only one direction and only one train, and this is the train to Brussels. We do not want this train to stay in the station in Turkey but keeps moving so that Europe understands better that this relationship can bear fruit and we will deliver whatever is necessary for this respect.
How do you evaluate the EU-Turkey summit held on Nov. 29?
We see these summits as a mechanism that can shape future decisions. Hence, we will create two platforms: a political and an economic platform, which will address the political and economic issues, respectively.
This summit results really give us new responsibilities so we have to work harder in order to achieve the expectations. The first thing is going to be the political dialog mechanism. Thus, of course the foreign minister and prime minister will join us for the political concentration mechanism that we established last year. We are expecting more frequent meetings depending on the developments of our regions. Of course we will establish high-level contacts and we will revitalize the high-level energy group. This high-level group was established for the benefit of the potential that existing in our region. The third will be the upgrading of the Custom Union Agreement. It already exists in our relations with a lot of components but we want to take it into a new dimension and then we will talk about perhaps increasing trade to 300 billion euros, which I think will be of benefit to Europe, Turkey and the region.
In the past, Turkish foreign ministers were not invited to the General Affairs Councils; yet, after this summit, our foreign minister was invited to the General Affairs Council on Dec. 14. On the same date, we will be actualizing the opening of the 17th Chapter. Moreover, we aim to open five more chapters during 2016, which are 23th Chapter about the political criteria; 24th Chapter concerning Justice, Freedom and Security; 15th Chapter, Energy; 26th Chapter, Education; and 31st Chapter on external security and defense.
All of these chapters are currently blocked by Cyprus; however, we will be holding meetings to satisfy the requirements before the decision on opening the chapters are taken. As the energy and education chapters do not have specific requirements, these may be opened relatively quickly. The other chapters will require hard work, but the 31st Chapter requires us to be in accord with the decisions taken by the EU.
After Turkey agreed to the EU's refugee action plan, there have been some comments stating that Turkey will become Europe's open-air refugee camp. How do you respond to these comments?
First of all, I should state the allegation that Turkey will receive all the refugees in exchange for 3 billion euros biannually is completely wrong. German Chancellor Angela Merkel clearly expressed at the summit that immigration cannot be prevented. Therefore, the agreement is about transforming the illegal immigration into legal and systematic immigration. After determining how many immigrants the EU can receive annually, identified immigrants will be accepted systematically into the EU and will benefit from the rights granted to them. We will cooperate with the EU to make the immigration systematic.
Moreover, regarding the issue of immigration and refugees, eight countries with similar views established a group within the EU. Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Holland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries are in a group called the "Like-Minded Countries." These countries have invited Prime Minister Davutoğlu to Brussels on Dec. 17. The functioning of the mechanisms and visa exemption will be discussed at this meeting.
How will this 3 billion euros be utilized?
There is a misperception that Turkey will receive this aid. The said financial aid provided by the EU will be spent on the needs of immigrants. Turkey has already spent 8 billion euros for the immigrants that we have in our country. In this sense, the aid is about sharing Turkey's burden.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency's [AFAD] camps are appreciated by everybody. For example, during the negotiations, Martin Schulz expressed that these were the best camps in the world and all leaders of the EU should visit them. Prime Minister Davutoğlu proposed to hold the next EU Summit at an AFAD camp, in order to empathize with the refugees.
However, it is a fact that you cannot make people live in camps for a long time. Until today, 60,000 children of Syrian immigrants have been born in Turkey and we are providing education for 450,000 Syrian children.
The aid's utilization will depend on the developments in Syria. If there is a positive development in Syria, this fund may be spent to provide the necessary conditions for the immigrants' return. However, if the situation in Syria deteriorates and there are new waves of immigrants, this fund may be utilized in this respect.
With this agreement, Europe will become more sensitive towards the plight of immigrants, departing from an indifferent disposition.
Did Turkey negotiate on the amount of aid to be provided by the EU?
In our negotiations with the EU, we said what we have done up to now and expressed that we have spent 8 billion euros for over 2 million immigrants and this burden should be shared. We also highlighted that a new fund must be established for this purpose. We acquired what we desired.
How are the reunification talks in Cyprus going? What are your comments?
Negotiations are going very well. In the case of the wo parties reaching a settlement, a referendum is expected to be held for a permanent solution next March. It seems that, unlike the situation during the Annan Plan in 2004, both sides will vote for the referendum.
We can talk about three basic factors that were effective in the current situation. Firstly, the current situation is very different from the one in 2004. In 2004, there was a leader that opposed the referendum in Southern Cyprus. The new administration, on the other hand, seems more willing in regards to a solution. There were Greek Cypriot people who had guaranteed their EU membership in 2004 and, therefore, they kept their distance. Now, Southern Cyprus is facing economic hardships, while Northern Cyprus has flourished in the past 11 years. In summary, the situation is more suitable for a solution.
Secondly, our clean water pipeline to Northern Cyprus is another important factor, which will be open to use for the whole island in the case of unification. Thirdly, natural gas reserves also play an important role in this process. The feasibility of alternatives to Turkey to transport the gas is almost nonexistent. For example, Crete is about 1,500 kilometers from Cyprus. Israel, on the other hand, is not a secure zone for this reserve and the transportation is challenging. Therefore, these three factors and the good relations between both governments of the island give us hope of unification.
Does Turkey have a Plan B to speed up the EU membership process if there is hitch in the negotiations in Cyprus?
We always held the Cyprus issue and the EU membership process as two different things. There is the intent to open five chapters. Moreover, as everyone can see, we are close to a solution in Cyprus. However, as a political necessity, we always have a Plan B; yet, it is not meaningful to talk about the alternative while the main plan is still in action. Even if there is an issue in Cyprus, it would not impede the current momentum in our relations with the EU. In time, Cyprus will understand this situation, and if they don't, the EU will persuade Cyprus to recognize the issue.
There are many problems plaguing the region such as terrorism, refugees and economic instability. Yet, Turkey is accepted and seen as an actor that is to be cooperated with. Turkey keeps its promises and makes progress in many of these problems. However, while everything is going well, we are facing blockage from Cyprus. I believe that, even if there aren't any concrete solutions for the Cyprus issue by March, our EU process will not be halted.
Last year, you expressed that the ratified internal security package was criticized by the EU, while it was in accord with EU norms. Yet, we see France implementing harsher internal security policies after the Paris attacks. How do you evaluate this situation? Are freedoms being surrendered for security in Europe?
Countries may take some precautions when their security is under a threat. We passed the internal security package despite the strong opposition after what we call the Oct. 6-7 incidents during on which 50 citizens were lost. While it was being made, we examined the regulations and laws of all countries, and prepared a package that was in accord with EU norms and human rights. Many countries criticized us for this package; however, when they observed the enforcement of the law, they saw that there was no need for concern. On the other hand, Europe's indifference towards terrorist organizations that did not yet cause any harm to them, resulted in terrorism's spread in Europe. The Paris attacks were the result of this indifferent attitude. Afterwards, governments started to take some rigid precautions. Every government is responsible and has the right for taking some precautions, but these should not go beyond their purposes. These precautions are not yet official in France or other countries. If we see any problem in its enforcement, we will not shy away from criticizing it, as well.
For the lifting of visas, enforcement of the Re-admission Agreements is essential. How will this agreement work?
The re-admission agreement should be well understood; we are able to re-admit our citizens who went to Europe through illegal means with or without the readmission agreement. We also re-admit people who illegally go to Europe through Turkey. The main issue is about the re-admission of people who illegally went to Europe through Turkey. To ascertain whether this is the case, a commission will be established and this commission will investigate the situation of the people who allegedly came through Turkey. After the investigations, we will re-admit people who actually went to Europe through Turkey.
We have geographical concerns about the U.N. agreement regarding immigration. We have expressed that the immigrants originating from our southern borders should not be considered as such. Hence, Syrian refugees are not under the coverage of the re-admission agreement.
Was the freedom of the press in Turkey and arrested journalists discussed during the summit?
No, it was not discussed.
What is your opinion regarding the arrested journalists in Turkey?
Firstly, it should be expressed that the separation of power is one of the most essential criteria for democracy to function in Turkey. The legal process regarding the arrested journalists is still ongoing. Government interference in the process would harm the credibility of the jurisdiction. Therefore, we should first wait for the decision of the jurisdiction.
After last week's cabinet meeting, a government spokesman stated that the journalists should be trialed without arrest. This is also our government's position regarding this subject; however, it is not possible to interfere in the legal process.
Another important point is to distinguish the freedom of the press from immunity. Being a minister does not grant me the privilege to commit a crime, the journalists are subject to the same principle.
While there are certain isolated cases, I do not believe that it is fair to say there isn't freedom of the press in Turkey. There are over 250 television channels and the newspapers sell around 4 million copies. If 1,500 columnists write their articles every day, people can freely criticize and comment on television. Eleven million tweets originate from Turkey and 36 million people have access to the internet, it is not possible to talk about the nonexistence of freedom of the press.
If there are wrongs in these isolated cases, it should be corrected. If there aren't any wrongs, everyone should accept it.
One of the Turkey's priorities is to establish and maintain the credibility of the legal system. Legal reform is one of our foremost aims and is also in the government program. It is clearly defined that we aim for a legal system that is compatible with EU standards and regulations.
Actually the legal reform proposal was declared by the 62nd government in April. With this proposal, it aimed to eliminate the many issues that cause the legal system to become inert. To increase the trust towards the legal institutions and to correct the deficient parts of the mechanism are also a part of this reform. We could not pass this proposal due to the inability to form a government after the June 7 elections; however, the 64th government will prioritize this.
