Commissioner Rehn proposes partial freezing of Turkish EU talks

Prime Minister Vanhanen to visit Turkey on Friday

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Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, proposed on Wednesday that talks on Turkey’s possible membership in the European Union should be partially suspended.
      The Commission issued its statement on the future of accession talks with Turkey ahead of schedule soon after Finland failed in its attempts to negotiate a compromise over the Cyprus issue.
      Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was angered by the Commission’s proposal.
      "We will not let anybody step on our rights", Erdogan said.
      Rehn emphasised that the EU is based on laws. "If obligations are not met, there has to be consequences", Rehn said, explaining the Commission’s decision.
     
The European Commission proposed that discussions should be suspended on eight of the total of 35 areas of negotiation. The eight topics to be frozen include the free movement of goods, agriculture, and the customs union - all of which are linked with the Cyprus issue.
      The Commission also says that discussions on the other parts of the process cannot be brought to a conclusion. The membership process involves total of 35 areas of negotiation.
      The Commission proposes that membership talks can be fully opened only when Turkey agrees to give access to ships and planes from Cyprus to its harbours and seaports. The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
      Turkey refuses to recognise the Cypriot government. Turkey is the only country to recognise North Cyprus, which was occupied by Turkish forces in 1974.
     
At stake in the dispute is the so-called Ankara Protocol, which Turkey has signed but not ratified. The agreement should be ratified by the end of the year, but discussions between Presidency-holder Finland and Turkey have not brought the desired results.
      The EU has warned Turkey that the membership talks could become more difficult if it does not ratify the protocol. Rehn has previously warned the EU and Turkey of a "collision" if Turkey does not compromise on the issue.
      The Commission was originally supposed to decide on its recommendation a week from now. The Commission decided to move its announcement forward because the talks ended in an impasse.
     
Member states are to decide on the Commission’s proposal for a partial freeze in the accession talks with Turkey in December. Rehn notes that Turkey still has a chance to agree to the EU’s demands, if it wants to avert difficulties in the talks before the EU foreign ministers meet on December 11th. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen flies to Ankara on Friday to discuss the matter with the Turks.
      "The decision must reflect EU expectations, according to which membership candidates meet their obligations", Vanhanen said, assessing the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting.
     
The proposal is expected to raise disagreements among member states. For instance, France would have liked more severe measures against Turkey, while Britain is taking a more conciliatory approach.
      Cyprus is taking the hardest line on the matter, using its veto to prevent deeper negotiations.
      British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday that the Commission’s decision was a "serious mistake".


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Talks between European Union and Turkey over Cyprus fail (27.11.2006)
  PM Vanhanen says Cyprus dispute must be resolved in early December (21.11.2006)
  Commissioner Rehn: Turkey must open its harbours to Cypriot ships (8.11.2006)
  Helsinki Cyprus meeting cancelled due to Turkish reluctance (3.11.2006)

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