EU Minister pledges no homeland security bill against EU norms

ANKARA

Turkey's EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator, Volkan Bozkir, speaks during a press conference in Ankara, Oct. 30. AFP Photo

Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkır has reiterated that his ministry will make required interventions on the much criticized homeland security bill, if the bill’s content is found to be against EU norms.

Speaking on Nov. 3 in response to a question from reporters concerning debates on the bill, which are expected to begin at Parliament later this week, Bozkır said the EU Ministry’s opinion would also be requested, in line with a Prime Ministry circular.

“If the bills are introduced to Parliament by deputies then, as the EU Ministry, we will hold the required interventions. The adoption of any bill that is against the EU acquis and against practices in EU countries is out of question,” he said.

Last week, in response to questions on the bill envisioning tough new “pre-emptive” measures, Bozkır particularly underlined that the bill had not been introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) itself, but by AKP lawmakers acting on their own initiative, in an apparent bid to distance himself and his ministry from the bill.

The controversial bill has fueled debates on whether the bill will turn EU membership candidate Turkey into a police state, particularly due to measures that would allow searches to be conducted on the basis of mere “reasonable doubt,” without any concrete evidence.