EU's Decision to Cut Funding for Turkey's Accession to the Union

On Thursday, December 9, Reuters reported, citing several diplomats and European representatives, that a multi-million euro budget intended for Turkey's accession to the European Union has been cut. In addition to a reduction of up to 175 million euros that was supposed to be granted to Ankara next year, Reuters also reported the possibility of cutting a 3.5 billion euro loan for construction and development in Turkey. The news agency described this action by the EU as a 'symbolic stance against the deterioration of human rights' in Turkey. Nearly a year and a half after a failed coup in Turkey that left 250 dead, arrests related to it are still ongoing. The continuation of arrests and dismissals in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, particularly targeting journalists and media professionals, has raised serious concerns among media rights organizations and some of Turkey's Western allies, including Germany. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, stated during a televised debate last September that 'it is quite clear that Turkey should not join the EU.' She added that she would discuss with her EU counterparts the 'possibility of ending negotiations with Turkey,' and remarked, 'I do not believe that Turkey can ever join the EU, and I have never believed that such a thing is possible.' It seems that the Chancellor has acted on her promise and has succeeded in convincing other European governments to adopt a similar stance towards Ankara. In this context, Reuters reported that the budget cut for 2018 'is likely the beginning of a long-term reduction in European aid' to Turkey. The EU grants such budgets to countries that are preparing for membership in the union. The Director-General of the Budget in the European Parliament stated, 'As long as Turkey does not respect freedom of expression and human rights and moves further away from European democratic standards, we cannot allow such a government to benefit from European money.' Meanwhile, two European diplomats reported that the governments of the EU have reached an agreement with the European Parliament to block 105 million euros in aid to Turkey, which was intended for political reforms. Another allocation of 70 million euros will only be granted to Ankara if the human rights situation in the country improves. EU members will decide next week whether to grant a loan of approximately 3.5 billion euros from the European Investment Bank to Turkey. Official negotiations for Turkey's accession to the EU have effectively been halted since last year, and currently, there is no prospect for their resumption.