“2014 Progress Report remarks to the problematic points that Transparency International, Turkey has highlighted to date”
Although the European Commission Progress Report uses a temperate language, it emphasizes on some reservations by drawing attention to the developments in recent years.
As Transparency International, Turkey, we brought out a brief summary of some points referred on the report within the context of transparency and corruption issues. The report refers on transparency and anti-corruption issues in the section of Political Criteria under the name of Compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria title, and in the section of Justice and Fundamental Rights numbered 23 which is one of the titles described as the heart of negotiation process by EU in recent years.
In the view of the warnings made on the report, our call for public disclosure of assets, campaign finances and donors for a transparent presidential election is justified. It is noted in the report that the campaign financing was not sufficiently transparent and accountable during the presidential elections, referring to the work of OSCE and the Council of Europe. It is also addressed that campaign period raised concerns over the misuse of state resources to the benefit of the Prime Minister and over insufficient impartiality in media coverage.
Furthermore, the report includes parliamentarians and ministers who resigned after the corruption operation took place on December 17 and 25. In response to anti-corruption operation, it is expressed that the changing the work places of police and judiciary officials dealing with the operation and the legal amendments on the acts of Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and internet without any debates, raised concerns about judicial independence, impartiality and effectiveness. In addition to that, it is discussed through the EU report that the wide range of immunities of politicians and senior bureaucrats constitutes impediments in the fight against corruption.
Ethics Council is criticized by the report, due to the lack of enforcement powers and the absence of ethical rules for military and academic staff. The lack of control on public disclosure of the assets of politicians and bureaucrats and the legal gaps are also remarked. As Transparency International, Turkey; recognize the deficiencies at this point for a long time. Since March 30th Local Elections, through our campaign titled #temizsiyaset on change.org, demanding public asset disclosure of politicians and senior public officials reached over 25 thousand signatories.The European Commission also proposes in the report that, legal criminalization of illicit enrichment has to be put on the agenda in Turkey as it is required by Article 20 of United Nations Convention Against Corruption which Turkey is a party to.
One of the important issues pointed out in report is that the final reports of the working groups which were established as part of 2010-2014 Strengthening Anti-Corruption Strategy are not disclosed to the public yet and the civil society’s participation in the work within the Strategy is still not provided as we have been expressing for a long time. EU Progress Report also mentions that Prime Ministry Inspection Board is not independent, has only the coordinating role and its institutional capacity is uncertain in the fight against corruption. Besides that, it is indicated that Turkey has left the recommendations of Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) unanswered, especially in the areas political financing and ethics.
As Transparency International, Turkey, we hope that urgent action has to be taken for the necessary arrangements in consideration of the warnings on European Commission Report and we express our will on continuation of our honest, transparent and accountable management approach and our efforts on prevention of corruption in politics and public administration.
To access the full report:
http://www.ab.gov.tr/files/000etkinlikler/20141008_turkey_progress_report_en.pdf
