EU: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES VOTE ON PROTOCOL TO ANKARA AGREEMENT
European Parliament
Sept 29 2005
/noticias.info/ – The Parliament postponed voting on approval of the
protocol extending Turkey’s association agreement with the EU to the
ten new member states. MEPs feared that the Turkish declaration that
the protocol does not mean any form of recognition of Cyprus would
form part of the ratification process in the Turkish parliament and
thus gain legal force. Nevertheless, in a political resolution voted
afterwards, Parliament noted that accession negotiations with Turkey
can start on 3 October as foreseen.
At the request of the EPP-ED group, Parliament voted 311 votes
in favour, 285 against and 63 abstentions to postpone the vote on
Parliament’s approval of the protocol extending Turkey’s customs union
with the EU to all its new members, including Cyprus. The vote to
postpone has no legal consequences in terms of the starting date for
accession negotiations. Stumbling blocks were the Turkish declaration
that the signing of the protocol to the Ankara Agreement does not mean
any form of recognition of Cyprus and the Turkish refusal to admit
vessels and airplanes from Cyprus. A majority of MEPs first wanted
guarantees from the Turkish authorities that the declaration was
not going to be part of the ratification in the Turkish parliament,
fearing that it would then have legal implications.
Nevertheless, in a political resolution adopted afterwards by 356
votes in favour, 181 against and 125 abstentions, Parliament noted the
Commission’s and Council’s view that access negotiations with Turkey
can start on 3 October. But by the end of 2006, the Commission must
assess if Turkey has fully implemented the protocol. If not, this could
lead to halting the accession negotiations. During the negotiations,
which are open-ended and will not automatically lead to Turkish EU
membership, Turkey should be kept under permanent scrutiny and pressure
to ensure that it maintains “the pace of the necessary reforms”.
Parliament also said it considered Turkish recognition of “the Armenian
genocide … to be a prerequisite for accession”.
MEPs deplore that the Annan plan for a settlement of the Cyprus
question has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot community and hopes
that Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude in finding an
equitable solution. Meanwhile, the Council should keep its promise
and reach an agreement on the financial aid and trade package for
northern Cyprus.
On other issues, MEPs voiced their concern about the criminal
proceedings against Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, about article 305
of the penal code which criminalises “acts against the fundamental
national interest”, about the restrictions on foreign funding for
associations, and about the “Law on Foundations” concerning religious
communities.
Parliament wants each negotiation session at ministerial level to be
preceded by an assessment of the fulfilment of the political criteria,
both in theory and in practice, “thus exerting permanent pressure
on the Turkish authorities to maintain the pace of the necessary
reforms”. Also, a full programme of clear targets, timeframe and
deadlines should be fixed for the fulfilment of the political
criteria. The Commission and the Council should report annually to
the European Parliament and the national parliaments on the progress
made by Turkey in this respect. MEPs reiterate that the accession
negotiations are an open-ended process and will not automatically
lead to Turkey joining the EU, even if the objective is Turkish EU
membership. Finally, Parliament underlines that the EU’s capacity to
absorb Turkey is an important consideration as well, and needs to be
monitored by the Commission during the negotiations.
Debate on opening of accession negotiations with Turkey
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Britain’s Minister for Europe,
Douglas ALEXANDER said the strategic case for opening negotiations
with Turkey was convincing, but it was necessary to be scrupulous in
ensuring all the requirements were met before Turkey could join.
Turkey had met the two conditions laid down by the Council in December,
and its declaration stating that it had not recognised the government
of Cyprus had no legal effect. The negotiations would be the most
rigorous yet, and Turkey would not accede imminently. The Turkey
which would join would be a different Turkey, and the EU might also
be different by then too. Progress so far had been encouraging,
and the conditions for opening talks had been met, he said.
Enlargement Commissioner Oli REHN agreed that the formal conditions
set out by the Council for opening negotiations had been met. He also
stressed that the talks would be the most rigorous yet undertaken.
There were good signs – such as the Turkish government’s recognition
that there was a Kurdish issue and that the conference on the Armenian
question would finally go ahead – but also bad signs – such as the
uneven implementation of freedom of expression rights. “Both Europeans
and Turks should work to build a relationship based on mutual trust,
” he said, pointing out that the common goal would be accession but
that by their very nature the talks were open as to the result they
would achieve.
Roger KNAPMAN (IND/DEM,UK) said that he opposed political union with
Turkey as much as he opposed it with France, Germany or Italy. “But
what of the euro-fanatics whose ardour suddenly cools when they reach
the Bosphorus? It is not hypocrisy, but fear, fear that public support
for the whole EU project will collapse if Turkish membership were
seriously pursued.” For this reason, he said, he was happy to see the
EU plough ahead with negotiations, destroying itself in the process.
Andrew DUFF (ALDE, UK) said “It is extraordinary that those who
have profited so much from EU integration in terms of prosperity,
security and liberal democracy should not refuse to extend these
prizes to Turkey.” He said the EU’s absorption capacity was a real
issue, with the need for a settlement of the constitution ahead of
Turkish or Croatian entry. He also argued that the Cyprus issue and
instability in the Balkans could not be resolved if the EU refuses
membership to Turkey, and called for a stepping up of trade relations
with northern Cyprus.
Roger HELMER (NI, UK) said there were powerful reasons in favour and
against Turkey’s accession to the EU. The key condition, he said,
should be “democratic accountability”, Mr Helmer felt that Turkey’s
accession would “dilute the influence” of his constituents in terms
of self-determination and he therefore opposed Turkish membership
of the EU. Mr Helmer welcomed the proposal from Angela Merkel on
privileged partnership for Turkey as it would incur fewer costs for
Turkey. Mr Helmer wished the option of privileged partnership could
also be made available to the United Kingdom.
Geoffrey Van ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK) stated that “last Christmas the
Council voted for Turkey”. The conditions laid out at that time had
been met and Turkey was therefore ready to start negotiations. Mr
Van Orden warned against the separatist dissidents still at large
in Turkey that risked undermining Turkish secularism and unity. He
stated that Turkey should be treated in the same way as all other
candidates for accession. Mr Van Orden stated that the Cyprus question
should be treated separately from the accession negotiations. However,
he recalled that the people of Northern Cyprus had voted in favour of
the Annan plan on reunification and that Greek Cyprus had rejected. He
said the EU had done little to support Northern Cyprus. Mr Van Orden
welcomed the imminent opening of negotiations and recognised that
the talks would last many years.
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