IN A strongly worded resolution, the European Parliament yesterday set a number of preconditions on Turkey’s EU accession, calling on Ankara to immediately withdraw its occupation forces from Cyprus and facilitate the ongoing peace talks for a political settlement.
The EP adopted a resolution on Turkey’s Progress Report, based on a report drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten, which states that the Turkish government should contribute “in concrete terms” to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded.
Cypriot MEP Ioannis Kasoulides described the resolution as the strongest yet to come out of the Brussels parliament. It urges Turkey to facilitate a suitable climate for the Cyprus negotiations by immediately starting to withdraw its forces from Cyprus, by addressing the issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens on the island and by enabling the return of the sealed-off section of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The EP “deplores” the non-implementation of the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement for the “fourth consecutive year” and warns that failure to implement it fully and without delay, in a non-discriminatory way, could seriously affect its accession negotiations. The MEPs also referred to the “limited” progress on concrete reforms in 2009.
During the debate before voting, Spanish Minister for European Affairs Lopez Garrido stressed that implementation of the Ankara Protocol, which requires Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and vessels, was a necessity for the continuation of accession negotiations.
“If there is no progress on this, no more chapters can be opened,” Garrido underlined. He also said that one of the decisive factors for Turkey’s assessment included its contribution to the efforts to reach a solution in Cyprus.
New EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said that Turkey must do more for its EU accession. “Five years ago Turkey undertook serious commitments for democratisation. Today, we are concerned about the limitations towards the media and the ban of political parties,” the Czech Commissioner said.
He called on Turkey to make more effort towards democratisation, respect of human rights and individual rights and implement all it has promised especially as regards border control and readmission of immigrants.
MEPs regretted the Constitutional Court’s decisions to close the Democratic Society Party (DTP), and annul the legislation limiting the jurisdiction of military courts, noting they were “a serious setback in Turkey’s reform efforts” and called for reform of the Turkish constitution.
On a more positive note, MEPs cited the broad public debate on issues within the so-called democratic opening, and a law removing restrictions on broadcasting in Kurdish.
They also appreciated the diplomatic efforts made to normalise relations with Armenia but asked that the relevant protocols be ratified. In addition, they acknowledged Turkey’s role in regional security (Black Sea and Middle-East) and welcomed the signing of the Nabucco pipeline agreement.
In the resolution, MEPs call for the opening of the energy chapter in the accession negotiations. Twelve out of 35 chapters have so far been opened with the environment chapter opened in December 2009. Eight chapters were frozen in 2006 over Turkey’s refusal to apply the Ankara Protocol, while Cyprus has indicated it was prepared to block the opening of five new chapters. (CNA)
