Fair but firm

The difficult relations with the Republic of Cyprus: the “slowdown in domestic reforms”; the inadequate protection of the freedom of speech, religion and of minorities: in the report on the progress made by the countries eligible for accession to the EU, the Commission finds “many problems and delays” for Turkey. But objections are also raised against Croatia, FYROM and other Balkan countries that could be eligible for future accession. TURKEY ON EXTRA TIME. The Accession MEP, the Finnish OLLI REHN , presented, in Brussels on Wednesday 8th November, the decisions taken by the Executive Committee in this sphere. As to Turkey, he stated: “public opinion generally thinks it is moving apart from the EU. In fact, we find progress is being made in fulfilling the Copenhagen requirements” for accession to the EU, “even if in fact over the last year” its reforms “have slowed down a bit”. The Commission reserves the right to put forward “specific recommendations before the European Council of 14th and 15th December if Turkey fails to fulfil its obligations”. In particular, the European union will “monitor the full enforcement, by 2006, of the extension of the customs protocol to Cyprus”, since “no progress has been made” in “bringing relations with this member state back to normal”. Actually, the Commission considers it is not urgent yet to stop negotiations with the big Eurasian country, thus giving some “extra time” to the moderate Islamic government of RECEP TAYYP ERDOGAN . Just over one month for a major change of course, which shall be reviewed by the heads of state and government during the winter summit. But as to the Cyprus affair, Erdogan takes position with a peremptory comment: “The Cyprus problem is a political problem, it is not an obligation concerning our negotiation process”, which, according to the prime minister, “is a technical one”. A position, this one, that the EU instantly disliked. ENSURING RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION. One of the reminders that the EU Commission made to Turkey goes like this: “As well as to ensure freedom of speech, further efforts must be made to strengthen freedom of religion, the rights of women and trade unions”. According to the EU Commission, “freedom of religion keeps being generally respected”, although “no progress has been found in the problems encountered by the non-Islamic religious communities”. Objections that have already been raised about the situation of the Kurdish population and the risk of military control over the political life of the country. According to commissioner Rehn, “with Turkey, we have to be fair but firm. Fair, to show that any eligible country can join the European union; firm, so that Ankara will be strict in accomplishing those reforms that can bring it closer to Europe”. As to the future extension of the EU boundaries, Rehn explained: “First of all, we have to see if the EU can take it. To do this, we have to reform our institutions as soon as possible”. NEGOTIATIONS, MOVING ON BUT CAUTIOUSLY. “Europe needs a stable, democratic and prosperous Turkey, which is at peace with its neighbours and positively moving towards modernisation and the adoption of European values. This is why we have opened negotiations for its accession to the EU, which however can be successfully only if Ankara keeps carrying out its reforms and fulfils its obligations”. The president of the EU Commission, JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO , adds his comment to the one of the Accession MEP, after the publication of the Report on the negotiations for the accession of Turkey to the EU. Barroso leads the patrol of commissioners who would like to continue the negotiations even if in a very cautious way: special stress is placed on the need not to refuse to help any European country and on the role that Ankara could play as a “bridge” between Europe and the Islamic world. However they confirm the awareness that the EU must strengthen and improve the effectiveness of its institutions before opening the doors to any other country. After the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, planned for January 1st 2007, there should be no other extension for a few years. CROATIA AND THE WESTERN BALKANS. As to the other eligible countries, each situation is different: “The negotiations with Croatia have got off to a good start – states the Executive Committee – The Country has taken important measures to adapt its legislation in a wide number of areas, but it will have to work hard” to tackle “the reform of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and the economic reform”. The other Western Balkan countries, instead, “have made progress along the roadmap submitted last year by the EU Commission. Each country moves on at its own pace”.