Euractiv, Belgium
July 5 2005
MEPs support “rigorous” negotiating framework with Turkey
In Short:
The EU will stick to its commitments and will not change the
conditions for opening accession talks with Turkey, Commissioner Rehn
has told MEPs. “Let us give Turkey the opportunity to prove itself,”
he added.
MEPs on the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee were generally
supportive of the Commission’s negotiating framework with Turkey when
on 4 July they met with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Several
MEPs stressed the need for Turkey to achieve real and visible
progress in the fields of human rights, women’s rights, religious
freedom and Cyprus. They agreed with Rehn that Turkey has to
translate all its words into deeds.
According to Rehn, Turkey is set to extend its customs union to the
EU-10 states, including Cyprus, this summer. At the same time, Turkey
and Cyprus would have to continue working on opening bilateral trade
and economic relations, he said. Furthermore, Ankara will have to
normalise its ties and open its borders with Armenia. However,
recognition of the events of 1915-1916 is not a precondition for
opening accession talks with Turkey, said Rehn.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress