European Commission published its report on the enlargement process where it assesses where the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey stand in preparing to meet EU membership requirements, and sets out what needs to be done to address the remaining challenges.

Regarding Turkey, the report mentions that significant problems are recorded in Turkey on the independence of the judiciary, the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly recommending that substantial efforts are needed to restore the independence of the judiciary.

European Commission says that ongoing and new criminal cases against journalists, writers or social media users, intimidation of journalists and media outlets as well as the authorities’ actions curtailing freedom of media are of considerable concern, whereas changes to the internet law are a significant step back from European standards.

Regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, it states that the enforcement of rights stemming from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is not yet fully ensured and that there is an urgent need to adopt a comprehensive framework law on combating discrimination in line with European standards.

The only points on which Turkey has made progress according to European Commission’s report is the country’s economic situation, while calling to accelerate structural reforms and to address the refugee crisis, stressing that the country provides significant humanitarian assistance to refugees from Syria and Iraq.

EU accession negotiations with Turkey began on 3 October 2005. In total, 14 out of 33 negotiation chapters have been opened, and one of the open chapters has been provisionally closed. As a result of Turkey not having fully implemented the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement, the EU decided in December 2006 that eight negotiating chapters could not be opened and that no chapter could be provisionally closed until Turkey meets its obligations.