Euro-reporters.com, Belgium
June 29 2005

Rich Europe’s Turkic animosity
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson
Wednesday, 29 June 2005

“I hope that at least one Member State in the Council will pull
the emergency chord and stop this proposal by the Commission,” said
Christian Democrat MEP Elmar Brok, speaking just after the European
Commission presented its framework for negotiating EU membership with
Turkey. Brok, along with other conservative MEPs from rich older Member
States like France and the Netherlands, believes the Commission has not
understood the Zeitgeist. “Today’s decision by the Commission on Turkey
shows that the Commission has not recognised what its job is, which
is to lead the European Union out of its current crisis,” said Brok,
who is chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.

If Turkey fulfills the preliminary conditions, that include recognizing
Cyprus, then talks with Ankara could start as early 3 October. Unless,
that is European leaders, pushed by an ever louder chorus of
politicians, decide otherwise. “Turkey is our partner and must have
a European perspective,” continued Brok. “But it is dangerous to lead
either Turkey or the people of the European Union to believe that what
was being negotiated from October 3 onwards was full EU membership.”

“The main point in common behind the no victories in France and the
Netherlands was popular animosity to the Turkish candidacy. Everyone
knows that this sentiment is shared more or less in half a dozen
other Member States,” added French MEP Alain Lamassoure from the
conservative UMP party.

Fellow UMP MEP, Françoise Grossetête says she was always against Turkey
joining citing the Armenian genocide, torture and lack of democracy,
and the non-recognition of Cyprus. “The results of the referendum
in France and the Netherlands clearly showed that European citizens
wanted a pause in the enlargement process and a majority of them were
against the entry of Turkey,” said Grossetête, who is vice-president
of the Christian Democrat EPP group in the Parliament.

The draft framework for negotiating with Turkey, leaked earlier this
week to Brussels journalists, talks of “accession” being the “shared
objective”. Negotiations will last a minimum of ten years but there’s
no membership guarantee. Ankara will also be committed to the eventual
adoption of the euro. And even if negotiations are successful, Turkey
will not join before the next long-term EU budget starts in 2014.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, who last week told MEPs that
“enlargement had been stretched to its limits”, admitted negotiations
will be long and difficult but beneficial: “We all know that it will
be a long and difficult journey and we have to take into account the
concerns of citizens,” Rehn said, whilst presenting the negotiating
framework.

“It is in Europe’s interest to have a stable, democratic, prosperous
Turkey that adopts and implements all EU values, policies and
standards,” continued Rehn. “The opening of the accession negotiations
is a recognition of the reforms already achieved in Turkey. It gives
this country a chance to demonstrate, through a fair and rigorous
negotiation process, whether it is able to meet fully all the criteria
required to join the EU.”

Following Dutch and French rejection of the proposed European
constitution, a growing number of mostly conservative politicians from
richer old Member States want enlargement frozen for Turkey. “We
must hold up enlargement at least until institutions have been
modernised. Europe cannot enlarge for ever,” said French Interior
Minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday. Angela Merkel, the German Christian
Democrat leader likely to take over from Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
after September elections, is also against Ankara’s EU membership.

Even European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso admits things
are different now. “We should seriously discuss the signals sent by
the electorate regarding Turkey. We need the support of Member States
and citizens for the enlargement of the European Union,” said European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, speaking last week. “We need
a frank discussion on this matter. It would be mistake not to look
at this issue seriously.” Even Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn,
speaking last week to MEPs, said enlargement had “been stretched to
its limits”.

Ankara is under immense pressure to finally carry through on economic
and political reforms as well as expand its customs union with the
EU to include all ten new Member States, including Cyprus. Turkish
officials, however, are still talking of an additional declaration
to the Ankara Protocol on customs union stating the document does
not entail Turkish recognition of Cyprus.

If Turkey is not compliant, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is
ready with an emergency clause. “We have taken into account the lesson
learned from previous enlargement and focused less on commitments and
more on actual progress,” said Rehn. “We also have the emergency break
that allows for a suspension of negotiations if there are persistent
breaches of human right or the rule of law in Turkey.”

Member States will have the final word on whether to actually start
negotiations with Turkey on the basis of the ‘negotiating framework’.
Taking over the EU presidency from Luxembourg on 1 July, the UK is a
staunch supporter of Turkey joining. On the other hand, Greek Cypriots
will try to add additional conditions that could include withdrawal
of Turkish troops and settlers from northern Cyprus.

–Boundary_(ID_2zy8utw1fT7IDS5DiZJ6Dw)–