EU to call on Turkey for reforms

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

This file photo shows journalist Ahmet Şık arrested by the police in Istabul. Şık is in jail since March. AA photo

EU leaders will come together Dec. 8 and 9 for the European Summit of the Heads of state and Government after which they are expected to call on Turkey to improve laws related to freedom of expression and the press.

Based on a leak, daily Hürriyet reporters discovered EU leaders are expected to announce that they expect Turkey to further improve the laws and implementations in areas such as human rights, basic freedoms, and press freedoms. The leak showed that leaders will voice their concerns in regards to bans on websites and trials against writers, journalists, academics and human rights activists.

The leak also indicated that EU leaders would push for more regulations on complying with the Copenhagen criteria, such as the right to property, freedom of religion, women’s and children’s rights, gender equality and fighting against torture.