Question écrite de
M. Michael GAHLER
-
Commission européenne
Subject: Turkish Government’s violations of academic freedom at Boğaziçi University and undermining of the European Research Area
The Turkish Government is actively undermining academic freedom and institutional autonomy at Boğaziçi University. Two examples are the political appointment of the rector of the university and the recent arbitrary removal of three elected professors from their deanships. These attacks on fundamental values of the European Research Area are not compatible with the spirit of Turkey’s association agreement to Horizon Europe, which gives Turkey a seat at the table in the European Research Area. The Union cannot stand idly by in the face of these developments. We therefore ask the Commission:
1. Does it recognise that the Turkish Government is attacking academic freedom and institutional autonomy at Boğaziçi University, and what is the Commission doing to promote academic freedom in Turkey, as stipulated by recital 72 of the Horizon Europe Regulation1?
2. Will it address this issue in all forums for exchange on science and research between the Commission and the Turkish authorities, including the EU-Turkish Joint Research and Innovation Committee, the Horizon Europe Programme Committees and the European Research Area Committee?
3. Will it reconsider the association agreement with Turkey or withhold Union funds from the Turkish Government in order to protect academic freedom in Turkey?
1 Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing
Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013, OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1.
Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission
(2 May 2022)
1. Freedom of expression in Turkey is negatively affected by the increasing pressure and restrictive measures against journalists, independent media, academics, human rights defenders and critical voices. This demonstrates Turkey’s continuous backsliding in the area of fundamental rights and freedoms and the rule of law, as highlighted in the Commission’s Turkey 2021 Report (2). The Commission services have repeatedly pointed out that Turkey urgently needs to reverse the negative trend and make concrete progress in these areas, a cornerstone of the EU-Turkey relations.
2. All Association Agreements to Horizon Europe promote the respect of academic freedom and freedom of scientific research, as explicitly referred to in their Preamble (3).
‘Academic freedom’ is a key element of the policy dialogue during their implementation phase and addressed at Joint Committee meetings. The EU Member States in the Council were duly informed of the Horizon Europe Association Agreement with Turkey.
Moreover, the pact for research and innovation in Europe (4) set out the key commonly agreed values and principles that underpin the European Research Area, and areas where EU countries will develop priority actions, among which also scientific freedom and integrity. All associated countries, including Turkey, are encouraged to work alongside Member States on European Research Area objectives.
3. Funding in the EU’s Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation is awarded based on scientific excellence (the assessment is done by independent external experts). The respective Programme Committees (i.e. EU Member States) are consulted before any funding is granted.
⋅1∙ Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe — the framework Programme for Research
and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013, OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1.
⋅2∙ https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/turkey-report-2021_en
⋅3∙ Acknowledging the objectives of the renewed European Research Area to build a common scientific and technological area, create a single market for research and
innovation, foster and facilitate the cooperation between organisations in the field of research and innovation, including universities and the exchange of best practices and attractive research careers, facilitate cross border and inter-sectoral mobility of researchers, foster free movement of scientific knowledge and innovation, promote the respect of academic freedom and freedom of scientific research, support science education and communication activities, and encourage competitiveness and attractiveness of participating economies, and that associated countries are key partners in this endeavour. ⋅4∙ https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13701-2021-INIT/en/pdf