Internal reforms towards a more lively democracy, more effective state institutions, transparent courts accessible to all, are not first and foremost in the interest of the European Union, but in the interest of the people of Turkey. Achieving freedom of expression is a crucial part of internal reform, and freedom of the press is essential. In an open society, the media are diverse and represent a wide variety of opinions and convictions. In a successful democracy, government and politicians not only learn to live with criticism, but are ready to face it with arguments, not with a ban. These freedoms are among the cornerstones on which European democracies are built.