Relations Continue, but Concerns over Democratic Backsliding Persist
The report reaffirms that Türkiye remains both a candidate country and a key partner for the EU, while noting that relations continue under the “gradual, proportionate, and reversible” approach, as outlined in the April 2024 Council conclusions of the Council of Europe.
However, the Commission expresses deep concern over ongoing regressions in democratic standards, judicial independence, and fundamental rights. It notes that the increasing number of legal proceedings, detentions, and arrests targeting opposition representatives and political parties remain a serious source of concern.
Decline in Freedom of Assembly and Association
In the section on fundamental rights, the report highlights continued restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and demonstration in Türkiye. It notes that Türkiye provides insufficient legal safeguards for the rights to assembly and association, and that the legislation remains restrictive in nature. The Law on Meetings and Demonstrations is said to fall short of European standards, with broad and arbitrary bans persisting.
“The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has called on the authorities to amend the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations in line with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court. Authorities have continued to weaken the constitutional right to assembly by imposing extensive bans on public gatherings and demonstrations. These bans have often been based on vague, arbitrary, and subjective criteria.”
The report also refers to incidents following the March 2025 arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as well as the disproportionate use of force by law enforcement during the 8 March, Newroz, and 1 May demonstrations. It stresses the need to end arbitrary restrictions on public assemblies and ensure accountability for excessive police force.
“There is an urgent need to lift arbitrary restrictions on public gatherings, ensure accountability for disproportionate use of force by law enforcement, and protect people’s right to express their views peacefully.”
Barriers Against Civil Society Continue
While the report recalls that the freedom of association is guaranteed by Türkiye’s Constitution, it underscores that civil society organizations (CSOs) and trade unions critical of the government continue to face legal and administrative obstacles.
It states that associations face difficulties in obtaining public benefit status or accessing public funding, and that heavy documentation requirements and unequal access to digital systems pose major challenges, especially for small and local organizations. The report further criticizes that most inspections of associations are carried out by security units, describing this as an excessive and intimidating practice.
Read the full report in English here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_258