European law network suspends Turkey

- The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) on Thursday suspended the Turkish umbrella organization of judges and prosecutors as a candidate member. The organization does not meet the standards set by the ENCJ. The Turkish Council for the Judiciary is no longer independent of the Turkish government and legislature, according to the network.

The unanimous decision to suspend Turkey was taken at the general meeting in The Hague. The ENCJ relies inter alia on information from the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Human Rights Watch and the Venice Commission. The network emphasizes that it does not take sides in internal Turkish affairs.