EU: Ankara must show concrete improvements in rule of law

There should be concrete improvements in the area of rule of law, for the development of EU-Ankara bilateral relations, the spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said in a statement.

"Concrete and lasting improvements in the area of rule of law, independent judiciary and fundamental freedoms remain essential for the development of EU – Turkey bilateral relations," the statement says.

The EU External Action service also noted that the authorities in Turkey need to ensure the right to fair trail, a legal process, on the basis of the principle of presumption of innocence and in line with the European Convention of Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. 

In particular, they mentioned the head of Amnesty International in Turkey, Taner Kılıҫ, who was detained a year ago, as well as journalists, members of Parliament, judges, prosecutors, and academics remain in detention.