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The Taksim Square protests have negatively affected the already not so good relations between Turkey and the European Union.
The European Parliament passed a resolution on June 13 condemning disproportionate use of force against protesters by the police. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's response was that he did not “recognize” the EP. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was shocked by the treatment of protesters in Taksim, Turkey's EU minister and chief negotiator responded by saying that there is a “cost of messing with Turkey.” He said: “Sarkozy, who messed with Turkey in the past, can only go fishing nowadays. … Merkel should not use Turkey as election material." He added: “It is the EU that needs Turkey, not Turkey that needs the EU. If need be, we can say to those countries just mind your own business.”
The Turkish ambassador in Berlin was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, and in response the German ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry to be told about displeasure with statements by the other side. Visits between Ankara and Brussels were reciprocally suspended. The opening of a new chapter after three years in accession talks was likely to be put on hold, due mainly to Germany's opposition (for “technical” reasons) despite being supported by most member states. Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe (CoE) warned Ankara that it has to respect the right of demonstration that is part of the European Charter on Human Rights and the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against disproportionate use of force by the police.
What can be said about the new crisis in Turkey's relations with Europe? Mainly the following:
1) Turkey is a candidate for membership in accession talks with the EU. The EP has, therefore, the right to adopt resolutions concerning Turkey, whether Prime Minister Erdoğan recognizes it or not. Ankara surely cannot, on the other hand, ignore the warnings of the CoE, of which Turkey is a founding member. It is increasingly becoming clear that Erdoğan's campaign discourse in next year's elections will be based on a textbook case of populism of a religious-nationalist kind. Involving foreign relations in that discourse is surely incompatible with the dignity and integrity of the Republic of Turkey.
2) There is no doubt that the German chancellor has the right to criticize disproportionate use of force by the police in Turkey when even Claudia Roth, the co–chair of the German Green party, has been affected by that. And Berlin is surely right in finding statements by Egemen Bağış -- referred to above -- in violation of diplomatic politeness. Such statements are surely compatible neither with the interests nor the dignity of the Republic of Turkey.
3) The argument “It is the EU that needs Turkey, not Turkey that needs the EU” is self-delusional as long as members of the EU do not agree with it. Today, most EU governments and majorities of citizens in almost all member states are either opposed to Turkey's membership in principle or find it untimely. The EU is going through perhaps the worst crisis in its history, while Turkey surely has quite a way to go before fulfilling the membership criteria.
4) The truth is that it is Turkey that needs Europe and not vice versa. The strongest evidence for this is the fact that Ankara achieved a “Silent Revolution” in its political and economic regime by reforms it adopted between 2001 and 2005 when the EU (particularly the German and French) governments supported Turkey's accession and reforms mostly stalled when they later withdrew their support. It may be argued that had unanimous support for its accession continued Turkey could have long-fulfilled the membership criteria.
5) It is quite clear that the EU, by accepting, in blatant violation of its own principles, Greek Cyprus as a member without a solution on the island, has either knowingly or unknowingly lost its “soft power” over Turkey. It is a sad fact for Turkey that the promise of EU accession has effectively ceased to be a factor that inspires reforms. In sum, Turkey needs Europe, but Europe does not care.