European Parliament leans on Turkey

The European Parliament is leaning on Turkey to implement the Ankara Protocol that extends the customs union to new member states including Cyprus.

With 397 votes in favour, 95 against and 37 abstentions, the European Parliament plenary adopted a report on Englargement byForeign Affairs Committee Chairman Elmar Brok.

The report calls on Turkey “to fully implement the provisions stemming from the Customs Union Agreement and the priorities in the Accession Partnership and to remove without delay all restrictions on the free movement of goods affecting, inter alia, vessels flying the flag of the Republic of Cyprus or ships approaching Turkish ports from harbours in the Republic of Cyprus, or Cypriot aircraft”.

The report expressed regret about Turkey’s declaration that it did not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey made when it signed the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, and reminded Turkey “that recognition of all Member States is a necessary component of the accession process”.

The report also calls on the Turkish government to state clearly that the declaration about Cyprus will not be part of the ratification process in the Grand National Assembly.