Abstract:

The Council of Europe declared in the Statute of the Council of Europe in May 1949 that the Contracting Parties reaffirming their devotion to the  spiritual and moral values which are the common heritage of their peoples and the true source of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law, principles which form the basis of all genuine democracy. As the European Community has recognised the implementation and strengthening of democratic Norms require a strengthening ofthe rule of law. The effective rule oflaw depends on the assurance ofthe supremacy of law, the transparency ofdecision-making process, the independence ofjudiciary and respectfor citizens' rights. A candidate country must achieve stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities under the Copenhagen political criteria decided by the Copenhagen European Council. In this article, Turkey's problems related to rule o f law are examined within the concept of Copenhagen criteria. 

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