Turkey received 1 billion euro from EU to 'develop democracy'

Turkey has received almost €1 billion from the EU to support rule of law, civil society, fundamental rights, democracy and governance
Wednesday, 21 June 2017 18:50

A European Commission spokesperson said earlier this month some €979.6 million was paid out between 2007 and April this year with more likely to come given Turkey's continued candidacy for EU membership, according to a report.

The commission also said it was closely reviewing ongoing and future financial assistance for Turkey "to make sure it is fully in line with our interests and values," Nikolaj Nielsen from EUobserver reported.

The EU and member states are keen to keep an open door to Turkey following a multi-billion euro refugee deal that prevents people from seeking asylum in Europe, according to the report.

The EU Commission says the plan is to keep pouring money into in Turkey despite "the prevailing circumstances". It also noted the legally binding obligations that underpin the funds.

TURKEY RECEIVES MORE EU MONEY THAN ANYONE ELSE 

The amounts are not insignificant. Turkey receives more money from the EU's so-called Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) than any other country, the report said.

From 2007 to 2013, it was allocated roughly €4.8 billion, which is more than 40 percent of all IPA allocations.
Of that, €2.68 billion was committed and €2.19 billion paid out. A further €1.65 billion has been allocated since 2014 but not yet paid out, it added.

Commitments are legal promises to spend money on certain projects. Payments refer to the money that the EU actually expects to pay out in relation to the contract.

On Tuesday, the EU parliament's foreign affairs committee once again demanded the end to Turkey membership talks. German centre-right MEP Renate Sommer, who leads the group's file on Turkey, noted that an end to accession talks would also stop pre-accession funding.

"We demand the redirection of the IPA funds to use them exclusively to support civil society and improve the situation of the refugees in Turkey," she said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the EU's financial watchdog, the European Court of Auditors, said it would start to probe how the money was spent. The auditors announced they would focus on areas like the rule of law, fundamental rights, democracy, governance, and education. Those results are expected sometime early next year.