Where did all the money from the EU to Turkey go?

A recent article in the Brussels-based online newspaper EUobserver reads almost like a joke, except that there is not much to joke about in this instance. According an unnamed spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU has extended nearly one billion euros in funds to Turkey since 2007 in order "to support the rule of law, civil society, fundamental rights, democracy and governance." 

The latest tranche was reportedly paid to Ankara as late as this April. According to the Commission official, more funds will be released later this year, despite "the prevailing circumstances," because Turkey's bid for EU membership is technically speaking still continuing, although this has made no headway in recent years.

The spokesperson for the Commission is also quoted saying they are closely reviewing ongoing and future financial assistance for Turkey "to make sure it is fully in line with our interests and values." 

This somewhat inane remark is worth dwelling on for a moment, since "interests" and "values" rarely overlap in international affairs. Looking at the overall picture, one has to be blind not to see that Turkey under its present leadership has been making a mockery of EU values (which fully-fledged EU member states such as Hungary and Poland are also doing, of course). 

Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who currently leads the liberal political group in the European Parliament, put the matter in perspective recently during an address to the parliament in Strasbourg.
 
"[President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] can do what he wants. We don't take any action towards Turkey, not even suspending accession talks," Verhofstadt complained. 

As the EUobserver article points out, there have been over 50,000 arrests,...