The European Commission's annual report on Turkey draws up one of the harshest assessments of democracy in the country in recent years. The report mixes limited praise for Turkey's work on migration and regional stability with sharp criticism of government control of the courts, the decline of the rule of law and growing pressure on civil society. The 160-page document, released this week, says there is now a growing gap between Turkey's stated commitment to European values and what is happening inside the country.
The report describes Turkey as an important partner of the European Union but specifies that accession negotiations remain frozen. Brussels recognizes Turkey's role in managing migration and maintaining stability in the eastern Mediterranean, but says almost all areas related to democracy, human rights and judicial independence have deteriorated.
The European Commission commends Turkey for continuing to follow the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement on Migration, which helped reduce irregular crossings to Europe. It says Turkey has made remarkable efforts to accommodate around 2.7 million refugees, including 2.5 million Syrians under temporary protection. Since 2011, the EU has allocated $12.5 billion to support refugees and host communities, funding healthcare, education and social programs. Nearly 940,000 Syrian children now attend Turkish schools and more than a million refugees receive monthly financial aid.
The Commission considers that Turkey's management of the refugee situation is a key factor for the stability of European borders. It notes that irregular arrivals to EU countries from Turkey have further decreased this year. The report also welcomes Turkey's decision to allow easier access to work permits for those granted temporary protection, while urging Ankara to keep refugee returns voluntary and in line with international standards.
2025 edition of the European Commission progress report on Turkey:
In foreign policy, the report notes an improvement in relations with Greece and a period of calm in the Eastern Mediterranean. He says Turkey has avoided unauthorized gas drilling and military provocations since 2021, which has helped reduce tensions with EU member states. The commission calls this restraint a positive contribution to regional stability and says dialogue between Ankara and Athens has strengthened over the past two years.
Beyond these points, the main message of the report is that of democratic decline. Under Chapter 23 of the EU accession negotiations, which covers the judicial system and fundamental rights, the committee says Turkey is in its infancy and the situation has worsened. Negotiations on this and all other chapters have been frozen since 2018, reflecting EU concerns about the rollback of the rule of law. The report warns that courts remain under political control and judges face executive interference. The Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), the body that oversees judicial appointments, is still dominated by the government. Its members are not elected by their peers and its decisions cannot be reviewed by a higher authority. According to the report, this structure undermines independence and weakens public confidence in the judiciary.
The document says courts often act selectively, targeting opposition politicians and their critics while avoiding cases involving ruling party figures. The arrest of the mayor of Istanbul in March 2025 is described as a clear example of political pressure exerted by the justice system. The committee also expresses concern that Turkish courts continue to ignore the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. It highlights the continued detention of philanthropist Osman Kavala and Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirta, despite binding decisions ordering their release.
When it comes to human rights, the report paints a similarly bleak picture. It says anti-terrorism, online information and cybersecurity laws are often used to silence journalists, academics and activists. Independent media face financial sanctions and investigations while government-linked media dominate the national debate. The committee calls on Turkey to amend its penal code, anti-terrorism laws and media regulations to bring them into line with European standards. He says freedom of expression remains under serious threat.
Civil society is described as struggling to survive under increasing pressure. Organizations working on women's rights, minority issues and human rights are often subject to audits, tax investigations and negative campaigns in pro-government media. Public consultation on the new laws is limited, and foreign-funded NGOs face legal and financial obstacles. The commission says civic space in Türkiye has shrunk to its narrowest point in decades.
The report also mentions discrimination against women and minorities. It urges Turkey to improve legal protection for women against domestic violence and promote gender equality in politics and the workplace. It calls for stronger safeguards for ethnic and religious minorities and better protection for LGBTIQ people.
In chapter 24, which covers justice, freedom and security, the commission gives a slightly better assessment, saying Turkey is moderately prepared. It notes progress in border management, particularly along the Iranian border, as well as some improvements in the fight against organized crime. However, he warns that cooperation with Europol remains limited because Turkey's data protection laws do not comply with EU standards. Without these changes, Brussels says deeper police and judicial cooperation is impossible. The report also criticizes the absence of a national anti-corruption plan and the weakness of efforts to recover assets from criminal networks.
Economically, Turkey remains an important trading partner for the EU, ranking fifth with over 210 billion in trade last year. The commission acknowledges progress in stabilizing the economy but warns that political interference, corruption risks and weak rule of law continue to damage investor confidence. He says negotiations on modernizing the EU-Turkey customs union can only move forward if real improvements are made to the independence and transparency of the judicial system.
The report ends with a blunt assessment. Accession negotiations remain stalled because Turkey does not meet the EU's fundamental political criteria. The European Union cannot, however, ignore Ankara's role in key areas such as migration, the fight against terrorism and regional security. The commission writes that cooperation in areas of mutual interest will continue, but that progress towards membership depends on concrete steps to restore the rule of law.
This latest message reflects the EU's long-standing dilemma. Europe depends on Turkey to control migration and maintain stability in the region, but it continues to denounce Ankara's democratic decline. The report lays bare this contradiction. Brussels praises Turkey for stopping irregular immigration and avoiding tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, but it condemns the same government for arresting elected mayors, silencing the press and ignoring court rulings.
However, the report does not propose any sanctions or political measures to push for change. Trade continues, financial cooperation remains in place and migration management is seen as a shared success. By limiting its engagement to practical interests and avoiding direct pressure, the EU ends up tolerating and, in some ways, reinforcing Turkey's authoritarian turn. It is a relationship driven by necessity rather than principle, which protects Europe's borders but weakens its democratic voice.