The recent sentencing of Kurdish politicians in the Kobani case marks a significant setback for Turkey’s EU accession process, said EU Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor in an interview with MedyaNews’s Erem Kansoy on Saturday. “The result of the Kobani case is a sad day for any democrat in Turkey, but it’s a disaster for the accession process of Turkey,” he stated.
Sanchez Amor emphasised the importance of democratic values and principles for EU membership, criticising Turkey’s focus on economic and military matters. “This is not about economy, this is about values and principles and democracy,” he explained. He urged “Turkish ministers touring Europe”, including Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, to recognise that true efforts in democratisation are necessary for EU accession.
The EU rapporteur highlighted the negative implications of the sentences handed to Kurdish figures such as Selahattin Demirtaş, calling it a major obstacle for Turkey’s EU accession.
Sanchez Amor reiterated the need for inclusive politics in Turkey, stressing that the involvement of Kurdish parties is crucial for addressing domestic issues. “I always told my Turkish interlocutors, ‘you need the former HDP, the DEM Party now, inside the politics, inside the institutions,'” he stated. He further highlighted that any pressure on Kurdish political entities, media outlets and cultural defenders is “completely incompatible with the values of the European Union.”