Turkey may sign Customs Protocol in June

Turkey could sign the Customs Protocol with the EU in June, three months earlier than the expected signature in September, in a move which is seen as limiting opposition within EU member states to Turkey’s EU entry.

When the European Council of EU leaders set a date of October 3 for Turkey’s accession negotitions last December, one of the conditions was that it extend the customs protocol to all member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey does not recognise.

Turkey has dragged its feet over signing, however, fearing the potential legal impact of an implicit recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the impact that this might have on trade relations with the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, which is recognised only by Turkey.

Under the terms of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, although the whole territory of the Republic is part of the EU, the acquis communautaire is “suspended” in the north, which means that northern Cyprus is not included in EU customs territory.

However, public opposition to Turkey’s EU membership voiced during the referendum campaigns in France and the Netherlands appears to have altered Turkey’s assessment of the risks.

Expecations that Turkey would sign sooner rather than later were raised on may 31, when Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that preparations for signature could be over in a short time “but I do not know if it will take one week or two weeks”, Zaman Online reported.

He added that signing the protocol before July 1 ”would make no difference for Turkish government.”