Politicians in Turkey should not destroy their perception as "innocent" figures in the eyes of the public, urged Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Head Hansjörg Haber, underscoring the importance of fighting corruption, amid re-energized talks towards an EU accession.

Political financing is an “indispensable” source, not only for transparency but also for informing the civil society and the media, said Haber, during a conference on Turkey’s governance and institutions held by Transparency International Turkey on Thursday.

Having underlined that such suggestions regarding fight against corruption were not targeting to denigrate politicians, Haber stressed that increasing confidence to political institutions would strengthen the democracy.

Hansjörg Haber: EU demands active civil participation and free media

According to the recent National Integrity System assessment report released by Transparency International Turkey, “The executive branch of government has too much influence over other branches, particularly the judiciary, and the crackdown of the free press has made it harder for those in power to be held to account”. The report prepared with the support of the European Union and Open Society Foundation–Turkey has underlines despite the right laws, right agencies, and the resources to fight corruption, there is a huge gap in implementation.

Delegation of the EU to Turkey Head underlined the reenergized accession talks, underlining the EU’s invoke for “active civil participation and free media”. Haber suggested that investigative journalism and civil society’s participation could be boosted to ease concerns.

The envoy stressed that the EU could only establish the atmosphere to render Turkey strong. “The ball is in your court” he said.

OECD Group Chair: Turkey’s media under such pressure that no democratic country had experienced in history

Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery Drago Kos also addressed attendees of Transparency Turkey’s conference, where he evaluated the National Integrity System Assessment report, underlining that he would not expect such findings “from a country like Turkey”.

According to Kos, police officers, civil servants and intelligence institutions are nearly “immune” in Turkey and this situation makes a negative impression about Turkey. Kos commented that police officers could not be investigated for suspected misimplementations without the authorization of their chiefs.

Media in Turkey is under such pressure that “no democratic country had experienced in history”, Kos also urged, adding that journalists were “not terrorists or enemies of the state”.

According to OECD’s Drago Kos, journalists are the “mirror of the society” and even the most problematic and crook reflection is better than the inexistence of that mirror.

Kos referred to Turkey as a “tiger” in economy, in the eyes of the Europe. However, Drago Kos added “if the economy slows down- which is happening”, the executive power could face serious problems to survive.

Rupp: Chapters on judiciary and fundamental rights, justice important for EU accession

Michael A. Rupp from the Turkey Delegation of the EU also commented on recent developments in Turkey’s governance and politics during the conference.

Rupp urged that Chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security were important for Turkey’s accession process to the EU. However, certain “problems” could be observed on these issues, according to the Delegate.

According to Rupp, good governance means bringing the citizen to the center of politics. Citizens would want “good service”, which stems from “accountability” of the state, as well as “openness, transparency and sustainable participation” within the public administration, Rupp added.

Having urged that “legal acquis and institutionalization of governance” are crucial subjects for a potential membership to the EU, Michael Rupp pointed to problems in “implementation of law”, although Turkey’s system has always been “strong