Turkey's efforts to obtain visa exemption from the European Union have moved to a new phase regarding legislation on the protection of personal data. It is stated that Ankara has prepared a new text on this topic, which is one of the remaining six criteria, and has reached the stage of technical discussions with the EU Commission.
The process, which is progressing within the scope of the strategic approach announced by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, is considered a concrete step in terms of the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, which has been stagnant for a long time. However, the police intervention and the trustee decision regarding Halk TV during the same period have brought the standards expected by the EU, particularly in the areas of freedom of expression and the rule of law, back to the agenda.
EU'S PRIORITY IS LEGAL GUARANTEE
The EU side does not view the personal data protection chapter merely as a technical compliance file. It is expected that the regulations will be compatible with European standards, will not limit freedom of expression during implementation, and will be based on a proportionate and non-discriminatory framework.
The regulation in the field of personal data is also seen as linked to other criteria such as counter-terrorism legislation, operational cooperation with Europol, and data security in judicial processes. For this reason, issues such as the independence of the Personal Data Protection Authority, transparency in law enforcement activities, and accountability are stated to be among the decisive topics for Brussels.
In the visa liberalization process that began between Turkey and the EU in 2013, 66 of the 72 criteria were completed, but progress could not be made on six topics. These topics include the anti-terrorism law, GRECO recommendations, judicial cooperation, the Readmission Agreement, Europol cooperation, and personal data protection legislation.
HALK TV DECISION SPARKS DEBATE
While technical contacts were on the agenda in the EU process, it was reported that police teams entered the central building of Halk TV in Istanbul in the morning, a trustee was appointed to the channel, and the broadcast was stopped. It was reported that employees were not allowed into the building and traffic was closed due to security measures in the surrounding area.
Halk TV programmer Deniz Bayramoğlu announced that the meeting held by Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş with the head of the trustee committee to continue the broadcast did not yield any results.
Halk TV Chairman of the Board Cafer Mahiroğlu reacted to the development on social media. Referring to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Mahiroğlu stated, "The 'nullity' leader Kılıçdaroğlu and his team can be happy. The police are at Halk TV." It had been stated previously that Kılıçdaroğlu had targeted Halk TV in a broadcast he attended and said that they had complained about the channel to RTÜK.
Özgür Özel also reacted harshly to the intervention, saying, "Raiding a television channel at dawn and appointing a trustee is something only dictators would do." Özel described this step as pressure on press freedom and the national will; he said they were in solidarity with Halk TV employees.
Although the steps Ankara will take in the field of personal data may provide progress at a technical level, interventions against media organizations weigh down the political and legal dimensions of the visa exemption file. The EU's main expectation in the process stands out as the support of legislative changes with concrete practices in the areas of freedom of expression and legal guarantees.
News Source: 12punto
