The Christian Democrats’ second name on the list in the EU election, Martin Hallander, has previously been very critical of Turkish membership in the EU.
Ahead of the upcoming election campaign, he is adamant that Turkey, which holds the keys to Swedish NATO membership, should not be allowed to join the EU. He also breaks with the government’s line that Turkey is a democracy.
– I wouldn’t call Turkey a full-fledged democracy at the moment, says Martin Hallander in an interview with Aftonbladet.
When the Christian Democrats go to EU elections next year, it is David Lega who tops the party’s list. Second on the list is Martin Hallander, former chairman of the Christian Democratic Youth Association, KDU, now a member of the regional council in Skåne.
Hallander has long been active in foreign policy matters. As KDU chairman, he helped design the party’s election manifesto for the 2019 EU elections and worked in the party’s campaign.
Sticks to position against Turkish EU membership
In the manifesto, there is a special writing about Turkey, which at various times wanted to be part of the European community. In 2019, KD went to EU elections on the basis that Turkey – which now holds the keys to Sweden’s NATO application – would not be allowed to join the EU.
“The EU’s membership negotiations with Turkey should be stopped for the foreseeable future,” reads KD’s election manifesto.
Martin Hallander continues to stand behind that stance, when he now wants to enter EU politics himself.
– The line I have traditionally followed is to find other forms of cooperation. Perhaps a close, privileged partnership, says Martin Hallander in an interview with Aftonbladet.
At the same time, the KD summit believes that Turkey should be welcomed into cooperation with the EU if the country so wishes.
– If Turkey wants to take closer steps to Europe and the West, it is something we should embrace and not push away from the European side.
“Genocide deniers”
KDU, with Martin Hallander as chairman, wrote on Facebook in 2019 about the promise that KD would stop a Turkish EU membership:
“Today, Turkey has the status of a candidate country for the EU. It is something that comes with an obligation to stand up for fundamental values. On the contrary, Turkey has moved towards a more totalitarian direction. Where democratic principles such as freedom of the press and an independent judiciary have in principle been abolished. Furthermore, genocide deniers are not welcome in EU cooperation.”
If Turkey is to be welcomed into the EU, change is required in the country, believes Martin Hallander.
– I think that fairly extensive changes are needed from the Turkish side when it comes to the principles of the rule of law, how journalists are treated. The developments we have seen in Turkey are undoubtedly worrying. It is clear that there must be changes there.
What needs to happen?
– We have seen problems around freedom of the press, how to treat minorities and the increasingly political governance. The politicization of Turkish society has gone in the wrong direction.
– It is not something that we can support or accept from the European side. So it’s a lot about fundamental freedoms and rights, the principles of the rule of law that we’ve had problems with in Turkey and that development.
“I wouldn’t call it a full-fledged democracy”
Sweden is in a radically different situation than in 2019. Russia’s war of aggression has led to Sweden being prepared to give up freedom of alliance and join NATO.
But for Sweden to be part of the military alliance, Hungary and Turkey must approve the Swedish application.
The NATO negotiations between Sweden and Turkey have been many and long. This summer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made Swedish NATO membership conditional on Turkish EU membership.
The Swedish government has downplayed a previously sharp Swedish criticism of Turkey’s rule and developments in the country, where free media and the political opposition find it increasingly difficult to operate.
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) as well as Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) have promoted the line that Turkey is, despite that, a democracy.
Martin Hallander’s approach to the issue is different.
– It is always difficult to comment on exact borders, but I would not call Turkey a full-fledged democracy at the moment. I wouldn’t call it a dictatorship either, but I wouldn’t call it a full-fledged democracy.
Because of the shortcomings you mentioned?
– Exactly.
FACT EU negotiations with Turkey
Turkey received the status of a candidate country for the EU in December 1999.
Negotiations to join Turkey to the EU began in 2005 but have been slow.
After the July 2016 coup d’état in Turkey, negotiations on Turkish EU membership stalled.
In November of the same year, the EU Parliament adopted a resolution that demanded a halt to negotiations with Turkey as long as the political repression in the country continues. The requirements were repeated in 2017.
Negotiations have been at a standstill since 2018.
(Source: European Council and EU Parliament)
Read more