The call of history in a Turkish court
In a speech on Wednesday, the chief executive of the European Union said that 鈥渢he call of history鈥� 鈥� meaning the need to stop Russia from taking land from its neighbors 鈥� requires adding more countries to the 27-member bloc.
鈥淚t is clearly in Europe鈥檚 strategic and security interests to complete our Union,鈥澛爏aid Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
Her timing was perfect. On the same day, a court in Turkey 鈥� a NATO ally that has tried for decades to join the EU 鈥� took a step toward meeting one criterion for membership: protecting the freedom of association and freedom of expression. The court rejected an attempt by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an to shut down a prominent women鈥檚 rights group that has been trying to end violence against women.
Prosecutors had made a vague charge against the group, called We Will Stop Femicide Platform, saying that the group is 鈥渁gainst the law and morality.鈥� The group鈥檚 secretary-general, Fidan Ataselim, told Agence France-Presse that the court ruling 鈥渙ffers society a spark of hope about putting trust in the justice system.鈥�
Those sparks of hope could be increasing. The EU and Turkey have stepped up their negotiations since May when President Erdo臒an was reelected. With his political survival intact, he may be ready to challenge Turkey鈥檚 Islamic conservatives, who want him to keep rolling back protections for women. In 2021, Turkey withdrew from a European convention aimed at combating violence against women.
鈥淎t a time when the enlargement policy is back on the EU agenda due to geopolitical concerns, excluding Turkey from this process would be a great strategic mistake,鈥� said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The EU insists that any aspirant for membership, such as Turkey or Ukraine, still meet the bloc鈥檚 high standards. 鈥淥ur future is a Union of freedom, rights and values for all,鈥� said the European Commission president. 鈥淲e will be very strong on the rule of law.鈥�
Turkey in particular must show real progress on its 鈥渄emocracy and the rule of law,鈥� said Oliv茅r V谩rhelyi, EU commissioner for enlargement.
While violence against women in Turkey has risen, the country has made some progress on women鈥檚 rights. The May elections saw the highest number of聽women聽elected to parliament in聽Turkey鈥檚 recent political history. When the women鈥檚 national volleyball team won the European championship this month, the players returned home to a hero鈥檚 welcome 鈥� and a congratulatory phone call from Mr. Erdo臒an.
The values that bind the EU are also a shield from aggression, as Turkey may be learning. If it adopts EU-style reforms, it may well be heeding the call of history.
