LAGENDIJK: “Civilian authority should be above the military”

Following the commission’s 50th meeting, Lagendijk told an Istanbul press conference that EU officials were interested in the contents of an upcoming seventh harmonization package expected to include reforms regarding Turkey’s military establishment. Stressing that the duties and functions of the TSK should be similar those of the military establishments in other EU countries, Lagendijk said, “Civilian authority should be higher than the TSK, and it should be dependent on civilian authority.”