EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS ARE HEADING FOR A STALEMATE
EurActiv.com, Belgium
Oct 16 2006
In Short:
EU-Turkey negotiations have hit a wall. A solution for the Cyprus
issue appear to remain out of reach. Comments by Barroso have added
to the sombre mood around the upcoming progress report.
RELATED
EU-Turkey relations
Turkey accession and Cyprus
Background:
The EU launched accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005.
The Finnish presidency is currently stepping up its efforts to find
a compromise on the Cyprus issue, one of the main stumbling blocks
on Turkey’s way to accession, as the pace of negotiations slowed down.
Issues:
Greece and Greek Cyprus have blocked the opening of negotiations in
new policy areas, such as enterprise and industry, pressuring Turkey
to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels.
Greek Cypriot spokesperson Christodoulos Pashiardis said on 12 October
2006, that their aim was "not to accept the opening of any of the
remaining 34 chapters concerning Turkey’s accession until 8 November
2006, when Turkey’s progress report is issued."
Turkey refuses to open its ports to Greek Cypriots unless an
international embargo against the Turkish part of Cyprus is lifted.
The Finnish presidency is currently in search of a compromise to
unlock the Cyprus issue, which is currently blocking progress in
EU-Turkey membership negotiations.
Meanwhile, Turkish business and consumer groups threatened to boycott
French products, after a bill passed by the French parliament to
penalise denial of the Armenian genocide. Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Because of certain narrow-minded deputies,
the France we know as a country of liberties is forced to live with
this shame".
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso pronounced a very pessimistic
view of the progress of Turkey’s membership negotiations.
He said it could be up to 20 years before Turkey joined the EU and
highlighted a slowdown in reforms.
Positions:
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the BBC: "We are
concerned about Turkey because the pace of reforms is rather slow
from our point of view. I believe it would be great to have Turkey if
Turkey respects all the economic and political criteria. This is not
yet the case. It is a country that comes from a different tradition.
There are efforts in the right direction but nowadays there is news
that is not encouraging in terms of them coming closer to us."
Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas said: "Cyprus cannot
act as if nothing is happening in EU-Turkey relations at a time when
it refuses to meet its obligations towards the EU".
Turkey’s Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan did not comment on the blockade,
but said that Turkey expected negotiations to be opened and closed
on a few chapters during Germany’s EU presidency in early 2007.