EuroNews – English Version
September 27, 2006

Parliament’s scathing report on Turkey

The European Parliament has warned Turkey it must speed up reforms if
it wants to join the European Union. The message comes in a highly
critical though non-binding report by EU lawmakers. They accuse
Ankara of failing to live up to promises it made to start talks last
October on joining the bloc. This adds to pressure on Turkey to open
its ports and airports to EU member Cyprus under an extended customs
agreement.

The parliament’s political groups are deeply divided over the future
with Turkey. Liberal chief Graham Watson underscored the negotiations
are likely to drag on: "They (the negotiations) will probably be
slower than we initially envisaged, because the pace of reforms in
Turkey is slower than we hoped, and because the speed of developing a
European Constitution to allow us to take in more members is slower
than we hoped as well. But let’s proceed!" The report cited
"insufficient progress" on freedom of expression, religious and
minority rights, women’s rights and the rule of law.

The parliament also reiterated its call on Turkey to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide, but did not make recognition by Ankara a
precondition for EU membership. On this subject, Greek socialist
Panos Beglitis said: "Political pre-requisites here, concerning
Turkey’s European prospects and its adhesion negotiations, must not
be imposed. That would a major political fault – changing the rules
in mid-game. Turkey must itself come to terms with its own history."

Parliament has never tried to veto a country joining the bloc but has
pressured EU hopefuls to speed up reforms in the past. In its next
regular progress report on Turkey on Nov. 8, the European Commission
has promised to take parliament’s views into account.