AN ANALYSIS ON THE EC COMMISSION'S PROGRESS REPORTS REGARDING TO THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND TURKEY'S ACCESSION TO THE EU

Year 2009, Volume: 17 Issue: 1&2, 53 - 75, 25.12.2009

Kerem Batır

https://doi.org/10.29228/mjes.155

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate Turkey's reform process within the
framework of EU accession negotiations with a major focus on freedom of
expression. It is argued that EU membership has become a major incentive
for Turkish reforms and this includes legislative changes with regard to
freedom of expression as well. The extent that Turkey has succeeded to
adopt political and social rights generally shared within the EU is analyzed
in this study by examining EU progress reports along with official
documents on Turkey's progress in reform implementation. A brief overview
of cases will serve to a better understanding of the improvements in freedom
of expression. The study ends by concluding that EU has become an
external force for Turkish political reforms and those changes have become
more obvious especially since the opening up of accession negotiations in
2005.

Keywords

Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, Accession Process, Progress Reports.

AN ANALYSIS ON THE EC COMMISSION'S PROGRESS REPORTS REGARDING TO THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND TURKEY'S ACCESSION TO THE EU

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate Turkey's reform process within the
framework of EU accession negotiations with a major focus on freedom of
expression. It is argued that EU membership has become a major incentive
for Turkish reforms and this includes legislative changes with regard to
freedom of expression as well. The extent that Turkey has succeeded to
adopt political and social rights generally shared within the EU is analyzed
in this study by examining EU progress reports along with official
documents on Turkey's progress in reform implementation. A brief overview
of cases will serve to a better understanding of the improvements in freedom
of expression. The study ends by concluding that EU has become an
external force for Turkish political reforms and those changes have become
more obvious especially since the opening up of accession negotiations in
2005. 

Keywords

İnsan Hakları, İfade Özgürlüğü, Katılım Süreci, İlerleme Raporları

References

• Treaty of Amsterdam, retrieved on 1 June 2009 from: http://eurlex.europa.eu/en/treatiesldat/11997D/htm/ 11997D.html. 75
• Treaty of the European Union. OJ 92/C 191/01, retrieved on 1 June 2009, from: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/en/treaties/treaties_ founding.htm.