E.U. FOREIGN ministers yesterday approved the protocol extending the customs union between Turkey and the EU to all member states, including Cyprus.
The protocol, expected to be forwarded to Ankara so it can be signed as soon as possible, maybe as early as tomorrow, is considered a de facto recognition of Cyprus by Turkey.
The signing of the Protocol will open the way for Turkey to start accession talks with the EU on October 3, as it is one of two conditions set by the EU. The other condition, implementation of six legal reform packages, has already been met.
Even so, the problems are unlikely to end there, as Ankara is expected to make a declaration clarifying that the signing of the Protocol – a purely technical document – does not constitute recognition of Cyprus and that “south Cyprus” does not represent all citizens on the island. It had made a similar statement when the Republic joined the EU on May 1, 2004.
Both the Commission and the Luxembourg presidency have told Ankara that they will in no way accept any such declaration for more than what it is – a unilateral position.
Speaking to the Mail, last night, commission sources said that “in the context of international agreements certain parties may want to make a declaration. The Commission considers it can only be unilateral, in a separate document, and without jeopardizing the agreement.”
What remains to be seen is how Turkey will handle the implementation of the Protocol, and especially the docking of Cyprus-flagged ships at its ports, and how Nicosia and the EU will react to any shortcomings.
Ankara argues this is a separate issue as it comes under “services” and not “customs union”, therefore it has no such obligation, while the Commission believes that with its stance Turkey will be hindering the “free circulation of goods”.
Turkish sources were saying last night that Ankara could not appear to be going ahead with any more “concessions” to the Greek Cypriots and the EU, especially when the trade and aid package for the Turkish Cypriots has been blocked. Public opinion within Turkey is already complaining, they noted.
Public anti-EU sentiment in Turkey is also expected to flare after the Foreign Ministers also decided to keep the EU’s enlargement, and the start of Turkey’s accession talks, very low key.
The ministers agreed not to have a separate paragraph on enlargement in the draft conclusions to be approved by heads of states later this week. Instead, they included a reference with which “the European Council recalls furthermore its conclusions of December 16-17 on enlargement and underlines the need to implement them in full.”
This formula was proposed by the Luxembourg Presidency following differences between countries like Britain who support enlargement and others such as France, who are very weary after the ‘no’ in the Constitution referenda in France and The Netherlands. Opinion polls in these two countries, as well as other states like Austria and Germany, show citizens do not favour further enlargement, especially to a large, predominantly Muslim state like Turkey.
Speaking to the Mail, Commission sources played down the importance of excluding the paragraph on enlargement. They said the reference to last December’s conclusions to start talks with Turkey and Croatia were a clear commitment. This summit was not supposed to discuss enlargement in any case, they added.
However, other sources believe talks will start with Turkey on October 3, but say that excluding enlargement from the Conclusions, when the first two drafts had a reference, sends a strong negative signal regarding the EU’s further expansion. They believe that the EU will witness an increase in demands for a “special partnership” with Turkey rather than full accession
