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Turkish government urged to make judicial reforms for EU accession

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A council for the European Union (EU) on Tuesday said that Turkey should do more in terms of judicial reform, protection of citizens' rights, and various other efforts in order to further their request to be granted accession to the EU. The 47th meeting of the EC-Turkey Association Council was held in Brussels on Tuesday to review relations between Turkey and the EU. The EU acknowledged the Turkish government's progress and commitment to reaching the accession requirements but maintained that reforms and substantial efforts are still needed in the areas of:judicial reform, anti-corruption strategy, effective protection of citizens' rights, full implementation of the policy of zero tolerance of torture and ill-treatment, ensuring freedom of expression and of religion in law and in practice for all religious communities, respect for property rights, respect for and protection of minorities and strengthening of cultural rights, women's rights, children's rights and trade union rights, and the civilian authorities' control of the military.The EU expressed hope that Turkey would increase its efforts to implement the reforms and measures required for accession. Earlier this month, secular judges in Turkey warned the ruling Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) that proposed constitutional amendments were going too far in promoting an Islamic agenda. Constitutional reforms are an issue for Turkey's accession to the EU since its constitution was written under military rule and limits freedom of expression and religion. Earlier this year, a report by advocacy group Tesev argued that Turkish property rights still fell short of those required to join the EU. Last year, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso addressed the Turkish parliament to applaud the government's efforts to reform a controversial provision of the Turkish penal code but stressed that further efforts would be necessary.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 20, 2009 (boomark / email).