EU Support to Rule of Law & Fundamental Rights

02.03.2023

Reforms in the field of rule of law and fundamental rights remained strategic priorities for the EU cooperation with Türkiye.
The Treaty on European Union sets the legal basis to join the EU (Article 49).The applicant country must:

Respect and commit to the values set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), namely: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law; respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; and respect for a pluralistic society and for non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men.

The applicant country must also satisfy EU eligibility criteria. These are commonly referred to as the Copenhagen Criteria as they were defined by the European Council in Copenhagen in June 1993. These criteria include (inter alia) the following:

- stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the main financial instrument to support the beneficiaries in adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required in order to comply with Union’s values and to progressively align to the Union’s rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership.
Under IPA II (2014-2020) the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights priorities were targeted under two sub-sectors: Fundamental Rights and Judiciary and Home Affairs.
Objectives under the sub-sector of Fundamental Rights and Judiciary were to enhance the independence, impartiality, efficiency and administration of the judiciary as well as to enhance respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.
Indicative amount of €132 million was allocated to the projects under Fundamental Rights and Judiciary sub-sector during this period (2014-2020) and it aimed to support the main institutions such as Ministry of Justice, various courts (Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Council of State), Justice Academy, Ombudsman Institution, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Education, Bar associations and Union of Turkish Bar Associations, National Police and Gendarmerie.
From 2021, IPA III is in place and will provide assistance during 2021-2027.
The support to civil society is channelled through additional instruments such as The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme.