Finland wants to set date for EU membership talks with Turkey

Prime Minister rejects idea of "second-class membership"

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen says that Finnish leaders want the EU to set a date for the launch of European Union membership talks with Turkey. He said that a decision on the date for the talks should be made at the EU summit which begins in Brussels today.
      Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Vanhanen said that the goal of the talks must be membership.
      "The idea is that the Union is an intact whole, where there are no second-class members. This is an important principle for Finland as well", Vanhanen emphasised.
      In his view, Turkey meets the so-called Copenhagen criteria for the initiation of membership talks. He also said that he hopes that the talks could begin next year.
     
Vanhanen said that Turkey has advanced in all key areas of society, such as economics, democracy, development of the rule of law, and civil liberties.
      "I believe that Turkey has the possibilities of developing further, and to become the kind of European country that leans on the values and principles that EU membership require", the Prime Minister said.
      The Prime Minister also noted that the Commission had recommended the implementation of transitional periods for Turkey, which would apply to agricultural and structural policy, as well as free movement.
      Vanhanen pointed out that even Finland had transitional periods that were as long as nine years.
     
On the membership talks with Romania and Bulgaria, Prime Minister Vanhanen said that he supports the finalising of talks with the two countries so that their membership agreements could be signed as early as possible next year. Under this schedule, the countries could become members of the EU in 2008.
      Last week Finland succeeded in its effort to set tougher membership requirements for Romania. Under the terms, Romania's EU membership could be postponed by a year if the country has not made sufficient progress in legal issues and competition policies.
      Commenting on Finland's role in the decision, Vanhanen said: "Any other country could have been active in this matter".
      He added that Finland's action was quite normal procedure in the EU. "We will learn to get used to this in an expanding Union. Coalitions will vary, and at times we may be alone", Vanhanen said.
     
Romanians denounced the move as a "Calvinist conspiracy".
      "Labels used for domestic consumption spread quickly around the world... This is not new in politics", Vanhanen said in response to the accusation.
      Finland will also support Croatia's bid for membership, if the country first agrees to engage in credible cooperation with the international court investigating the atrocities of the former Yugoslavia.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Foreign Minister Tuomioja wants equal treatment for Turkey in EU (14.12.2004)

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