EUROPE: MEPs call for Turkey’s EU accession process to be ended

The European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the amended report on Turkey, calling upon the European Commission and the European Council to terminate Turkey’s candidacy for EU membership.

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The report, as amended by the political groups, calls on Turkey to withdraw occupation troops from Cyprus, return Varosha to the UN and refrain from sources of friction with its neighbours including the exclusive economic zone.

More specifically, the final text recommends that the Commission and the Council of the European Union: "in accordance with the Negotiating Framework, formally suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey; remains, however, committed to democratic and political dialogue with Turkey…to support, through a dedicated envelope directly managed by the EU, Turkey’s civil society, human rights defenders and journalists…”

It "calls on the Commission to include a clause on human rights and fundamental freedoms in the upgraded Customs Union, making human rights and fundamental freedoms a key conditionality; recalls that the current Customs Union does not achieve its full potential when until Turkey fully implements the Additional Protocol towards all Member States;"

On the Cyprus issue, the amended text welcomes "the efforts by the under the auspices of the UN Secretary General to resume negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus " and "asks the EU and its Member States to play a more active role in bringing negotiations to a successful conclusion".

MEPs also urge Turkey to recognise "the right of the Republic of Cyprus to enter into bilateral agreements concerning its exclusive economic zone; reiterates its call on Turkey to respect fully the sovereign rights of all Member States, including those rights related to the prospecting for and exploitation of natural resources in accordance with the EU acquis and International law; urges Turkey to engage in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to refrain from any threat or action which might have negative effects on good neighbourly relations".