On Saturday Finland takes over the reigns of an EU Presidency that could be no less eventful for Cyprus and Turkey than Finland’s last presidency in 1999.
The Helsinki summit in December 1999 was historic in several respects.
First, Bulgaria and Romania, still suffering the economic impact of the Kosovo war next door, were invited against the odds to start accession negotiations almost immediately along with Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta.
Second, Turkey was accepted as an EU candidate after decades of trying: “Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States.”
And last, but not least, the Council said those famous words which might just have taken away Greek Cypriots’ principal incentive for a solution: “The European Council underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the Council’s decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition. In this the Council will take account of all relevant factors.”
Briefing journalists last Thursday, Finland’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Risto Piipponen, said “our aim is to concentrate on normal daily Union work” in order to get decisions on key legislation such as the REACH chemicals directive, the working time directive and to finalise the services directive.
The work will also include plodding along to make progress on the constitution, competitivness, internal security and external relations.
Finland, which is becoming something of a transport hub for far-eastern flights, will also host the huge Asem 6 summit with Asian countries, while another six third-country summits will take place in Brussels.
The Union “has to respect its commitments” (to TCs)
But its main political challenge will be what happens to Turkey’s accession process if the European Commission’s report in late October says that Turkey has not implemented the Ankara Protocol (which would extend the customs union to Cyprus).
Right now, the Turkish government shows now sign of backing down on its position that it will only implement the Protocol if there is also a deal on Turkish Cypriot trade. This means, essentially, when the EU implements the direct trade regulation.
The Ambassador echoed EU leaders’ insistence that Turkey must fulfil its obligations. But referring to the EU Council’s pledge on 26 April 2004 to assist Turkish Cypriots, the Ambassador also echoed comments made by the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, this week about the EU having obligations.
“The Union has to respect its commitments,” Piipponen said, suggesting that it must implement the direct trade regulation one way or another.
But implementing the regulation will depend on the agreement of the government of Cyprus.
And right now, although rumours abound, there is no sign that the Cyprus government is ready to do a straight Ankara-direct trade deal without something additional to take back home, such as returning the ghost town of Varosha to Greek Cypriot control.
Asked whether the Finnish Presidency will be working on such a deal, Piipponen made it clear that in this area, Finland’s reputation for transparency would have to be compromised.
He said he was not in a position to disclose anything at present, adding that with these kinds of things it as “best to do things quietly”.
Fiona Mullen
