Tuesday, 23 December 2008
The European Council meeting was held on 11-12 December in Brussels. Nicholas Sarkozy who is in preparation to pass the Council Presidency on the Czech Republic in January, presided the meeting. The European Council conclusions were critically important for both the future of the European Union and the relations between the EU and Turkey in forthcoming year.
The official document released by the External Relations Council on 8 December provides the latest remarks of the EU about the negotiation process over the year just passed with the two candidate countries, Turkey and Croatia. It draws the general framework of the enlargement strategy and reiterates its commitment to the basic values of the Union which are accompanying the enlargement process.
With respect to the Turkey, the Council welcomes the government’s commitment to advance the necessary reforms. However, it also expresses its disappointment about the limited progress in political reforms during the previous year. It especially points out the slowing pace of reforms in the fields of the judicial reform, anti-corruption strategy, protection of citizen’s rights, zero tolerance of torture and ill treatment, freedom of expression and religion in law and in practice, property rights, protection of minorities, strengthening of cultural rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, trade union rights and the civilian supervision over the military. Besides, it promotes the decision of the government to complete the South Eastern Anatolia economic development plan. The Council stresses on the need for action to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions in the region.
Furthermore, the Council welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court which forestalled a serious political crisis. However, it refers to a necessary revision of the constitutional rules, especially the ones about the functioning of political parties. The political parties are invited to establish a political dialogue based on compromise to resolve their differences.
One of the striking points that the Council stresses on is the current relations between Turkey and the two EU countries Greece and Cyprus. The Council, as in its previous declarations, expects Turkey to normalize the relations with Cyprus, to fulfill its obligations under the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and abstain from any kind of threat or action to harm the relations with its neighbors. It reiterates its conclusions of 11 December 2006 and awaits progress on the issues covered by the declaration of the European Community and its member states of 21 September 2005.
The enlargement conclusions also consist of “welcomes” on the issues related to the latest attempts of Turkey in its external relations. The Council applauds Turkey’s constructive and compromising role in the region which is based on delicate balances. It encourages the newly emerging diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. At this point, Turkey’s strategic importance is once more emphasized.
To summarize the overall Presidency Conclusions, The Council, alike the Commission, has a more critical stance towards Turkey’s current position in the negotiation process. In the Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey, the emphasis was much more on the limited progress in the political reforms rather than the Cyprus issue. It can be said the reactions from the Greek Cypriots worked out and the Cyprus problem was put forward for the determination of the pace of the negotiations. 2009 will constitute one of the headstones in the Turkey-EU relations. A comprehensive solution on the island and the intention to carry the reforms forward will determine the future of the negotiations.
Ceren Mutus (JTW)
December 16, 2008
