The hit-and-run relationship between Turkey, EU

Mahmoud Al-Batakoushi

Countries of the European Union got tired of the crises that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan keeps exporting to the European continent, recently a border demarcation agreement between Turkey and Al-Wefaq government in Tripoli, which the EU deemed a violation to the sovereignty of other countries, as it also creates future regional threats, and reflects the deterioration of relations with Turkey.

The European Council in March 2018 and June 2019 strongly condemned Turkey’s continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Council expressed serious concerns over Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and deplored that Turkey had not yet responded to the European Union’s repeated calls to cease such activities.

In addition, Erdogan has been pressuring European countries with a number of files including the refugees crisis and Daesh prisoners to achieve the biggest gains possible.

In March 2016, the EU entered into a controversial deal with Turkey that halted much of the refugee influx to Europe in return for an aid package worth €6 billion ($6.7 billion) .

Syrian refugees have always been the winning card of pressure in Erdogan’s hand, ultimately leading to the Turkish presence in northern Syria, hours after the withdrawal of US forces.

Suffice it to point out that Erdogan has threatened Europe three times, before the “Spring of Peace” operation, for money, and to justify the war he seeks to initiate.

Turkey has also resorted to exploiting Daesh to threaten the European Union countries by returning the prisoners of the terrorist organization to their countries of origin in Europe, which puts the European countries in a very dangerous predicament in front of their peoples, because they are a threat to their national security, especially since they were subjected to several terrorist attacks in the past. Therefore, it has no choice but to try to satisfy Turkey financially.

The European Union countries are well aware that the Turkish regime does not only want money, as it has sought for decades to join the Union, but always faced rejection, because of the decline in freedoms and the repression practiced on the people.

Another issue that is bothering the European Union from the Turkish regime is the latter’s expansion in buying weapons as the essence of the European Union today is soft power and cooperation. German ex-foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said earlier the bloc, which was once a bid to establish internal reconciliation following two wars, now needed a common “power project” to avoid it being a “vegetarian in a world of carnivores.”

It is also difficult for the Turkey to join the EU due to the lack of democracy measures and its continuous crackdown against political opponents and activists, not to mention the unlimited restrictions imposed on the media and journalism in Turkey.

Europe also fears the size of Turkey’s ties to radical groups, and the negative involvement in crises in the Middle East region. Moreover, the demographic factor is an obstacle to Turkey’s EU membership with nearly 80 million people, expected to reach 100 million during the next few years, while The European Union has a total population of 503 million, and suffers from the problem of declining population growth.

All these reasons contribute to the EU’s refusal to accept In January 2018, French President Macron called upon Turkey to end its EU membership dreams, while in September 2017, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said Turkey should categorically not become a member of the European Union.

The European Union is currently pursuing a specific strategy in dealing with Turkey, in an attempt to control Erdogan’s aspirations. These strategy includes ending hopes for an EU membership, reducing the level of relationships, withdrawing European investments from Turkey, which represents about 60% of the total foreign investment, and refraining from giving Turkey additional loans from European institutions to bypass its current economic crisis.

In addition, EU countries would cease arms sales to Ankara and closely monitor the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) for its role in spreading hate speeches and inciting violence.