Turkey: EC evades clear positioning; final chance, say MEPs

Elmar Brok, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, regretted the de-facto shift of responsibility of the Commission’s progress report on Turkey to the December summit of the EU heads of state and government.

“The Commission will submit progress reports for all candidate countries. However, it evades a final evaluation of Turkey, in particular with respect to the unresolved Cyprus question. This means not only a lack of credibility towards the European public, but it also continues to weaken the EU negotiation position vis-à-vis Turkey“, criticised Brok.

The Chairman expressed his absolute incomprehension over the “tactical and evasive behaviour” of the Commission towards Turkey. It is also unfortunate that the Commission was unable to come to a clear position by contrast to the European Parliament. Even though the report will name Turkey’s deficits concerning human and civil rights, the protection of minorities or the freedom of religion, it does not draw the necessary conclusions: “At the very least, the refusal of Turkey to meet its legal obligations from the Ankara-Protocol towards Cyprus before the end of the year, cannot pass without any consequences, again. Instead the Commission evades this decision and passes it on to the Council now”, Brok said.

The Commission’s justification that it wanted to leave the Council more time for the negotiation of a compromise on the Cyprus question, is therefore not very credible. “At least from my understanding, the Commission should play an active and constructive role in this process. Instead the Commission hides behind the Council, although the legal situation clearly says that Ankara must open up its airports and ports for Cyprus thereby recognizing the country at least indirectly”, Brok continued. He finally expressed his concern that the European Union’s crisis of credibility could be intensified further by the Commission’s unconvincing handling of the enlargement process: “The Commission meets neither its overall responsibility for the European Union nor does it thus deliver a positive impact for the Constitutional Treaty”.

In reaction to the Turkey Progress Report, the parliament’s standing rapporteur on Turkey, Camiel Eurlings MEP (EPP-ED/NL) said: “The conclusions of the Commission are clear and completely in line with the recent resolution of the European Parliament. It is very important that the European Commission and the European Parliament take a common stand: Turkey must implement the necessary reforms as soon as possible.”

On Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, he said: “Erdogan has made a first step in proposing a change in article 301 but more action is necessary on other articles in addition to the guarantee of the freedom of expression. We cannot accept a scenario where after a proposed change in article 301, other articles are abused to curb the freedom of expression. We need to be sure that all articles in the Turkish Penal Code which contradict European values are changed. Parallel to the freedom of expression, more advances are necessary in for example the field of freedom of religion, property rights and the rights of minorities.”

 On Cyprus, Eurlings added: “Turkey and other parties involved have been given one month extra to solve the outstanding issues. Turkey will have to comply in full with its obligations with respect to the Ankara Protocol. The Finnish Presidency is making a final effort and Turkey will have to do its utmost to make this effort successful. One thing is clear, either a blockade of the opening of chapters related to trade or a plain postponement of the negotiations altogether would be drastic. Diminished success in this regard will have serious consequences for the negotiation process.”

In conclusion, Eurlings said: “Turkey is offered an final chance which it should take. It is in the interest of all sides to prevent a further deterioration of the situation. Now is the moment of truth.”