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For decades, the European Union has proudly exercised its soft power, convinced that its economic and cultural influence can help its neighbors embrace its values.
Realpolitik has brought Europe down to earth as the bloc is forced to make tough choices and consider deals with unsavoury partners.
Look at Turkey. EU leaders have criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for years for his increasingly authoritarian rule and violations of democratic norms.
But there is sudden amnesia about this in Brussels as Europe tries to rearm, confront an aggressive Russia and ponder how to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
To give one good example, Euractiv has learned that Turkey, as an EU candidate country, will be considered a “like-minded country” under the European Commission’s proposed SAFE regulation, which sets out criteria for distributing €150 billion in loans for defence investments among Member States and third countries.
This is despite the outrage in European capitals over Erdogan's recent decision to jail his main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the latest in a long line of potential challengers to Erdogan's rule to end up behind bars.
How does this fit with the EU values proposed in the SAFE rules set out for the ‘like-minded countries’?
Undermining press freedom or the rule of law is not generally considered a routine matter in Brussels.
It is clear that Europe's soft power has failed in the case of Turkey. The new reality is that Europe will now grovel before those to whom Brussels once tried to teach lessons in democracy.
“Only Türkiye can save the EU from the impasse it has found itself in” on issues such as the economy, defense and politics, Erdogan said in late February.
Under the SAFE regulation, Türkiye can immediately supply up to 35% of its defence production to the EU, although a Security and Defence Partnership and subsequent association agreement would be required to increase industrial participation beyond 35%, Euractiv has learned.
This is particularly irritating for Greece, an EU country that has long had tense relations with Turkey. Among other points of contention, Ankara has threatened its neighbor and NATO ally with possible attack if Athens tries to expand its territorial waters to the 12 nautical miles allowed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (a treaty Ankara has not signed).
Meanwhile, Turkish troops continue to occupy part of Europe's last divided capital, Nicosia.
Ankara is also blocking a key EU-funded energy project, the Great Sea Interconnector power cable that would link Greece, Cyprus and Israel. As for the latter country, Erdogan is praying to Allah for the destruction of Zionist Israel.
Brussels also ignores the fact that Türkiye violated EU accession rules by not joining EU sanctions against Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This can be partly explained by Turkey’s key strategic location and Erdogan’s heavy investment in developing Turkey’s domestic defense industry, even as inflation has soared. For example, Turkey’s Bayraktar drones have become a sought-after weapon system after proving their worth in Ukraine.
Eastern Europeans, especially the Poles, insist on defense cooperation with Turkey, while Western Europeans largely agree that Ankara can take a leading role in Ukraine's possible post-war development.
“The political cost of sending [European] troops to Ukraine is huge compared to Turkey,” an EU diplomat told us.
Erdogan's ability to mobilize thousands of troops, coupled with Turkey's ability to produce inexpensive but battle-tested military hardware, is seriously pushing the EU to compromise its cherished values.
Round up
Trade wars: The EU has proposed to lift tariffs on all manufactured goods traded with the US in a last-ditch effort to prevent America from imposing so-called “retaliatory tariffs” due to come into force this week.
Health – Unions have criticised the Commission's emergency preparedness strategy for ignoring the concerns of health workers who will determine how Europe gets out of the next crisis, while almost every hospital in the EU is forced to work massive amounts of overtime.
Climate – Ambitions for a new global mechanism to tackle marine emissions are waning as growing opposition to a single tax and mixed signals from the EU threaten to dampen the ardour of final talks this week.
All over Europe
PARIS – Leaders of France's far-right National Rally are backing a steadfast Marine Le Pen, at least for now, as the hard-line politician vows to fight a recent embezzlement conviction and a five-year ban from running for office.
Warsaw – Poland has failed to appoint a national coordinator for digital services to ensure the protection of elections and civil discourse from interference and disinformation online, as required by the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), ahead of Poland's presidential election in May.
Sofia – A major scandal over alleged police patronage of a multi-million pound cigarette smuggling operation has rocked Bulgaria's political scene, prompting calls for the resignation of the interior minister in the EU's poorest member state.
(bts)
Source: Source
