Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-04-Speech-3-151"
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"en.20030604.4.3-151"2
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Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I too should like to take the opportunity of the adoption of the Oοstlander report today in order to refer to relations between the European Union and Turkey and developments in the accession strategy for Turkey.
Nor has the right been safeguarded for all Turkish citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origin, to enjoy full cultural rights. The restrictive nature of the recent regulations in the field of radio and television broadcasting and teaching in languages other than Turkish appears to be hampering the application of the August 2002 reforms.
There are also additional elements in relation to the human rights situation. These are the recent attack by the security forces on the Turkish Human Rights Association, continuing deaths from hunger strikes in high security gaols and the uncertain outcome of the case pending against Leila Zana, which we have also discussed here in Parliament. All these issues are elements in an imperfect reform process in which reforms formally adopted have not always resulted in practice in the improvement to the situation which had been hoped for. I could also refer to the report by Amnesty International on Turkey, which paints a picture of a human rights situation with numerous problems, but there is no reason now to go into that in detail.
In addition, however, I wish to mention that there are important priorities which are reflected in the text of the revised partnership and which we expect Turkey to take into serious account. They cover important sectors of the economic criteria and I think that they also correspond to the stated intention of the Turkish Government to improve the economic situation in the country. They also cover the important chapter of justice and internal affairs, in which we are looking forward to improved cooperation from the Turkish side and are promoting the conclusion of a Community readmission agreement.
Ladies and gentlemen, I should like to point out that there are another two basic priorities which also have an important position in the partnership. They relate to Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations. Despite the fact that efforts by the United Nations Secretary-General to resolve the Cyprus problem ended in an impasse in the Hague, his plan is still on the table. The Secretary-General has pointed out that, if a solution is to be found, there must be genuine political commitment to his proposals and a clear timetable for completing negotiations. The spring Council expressed its regret that efforts by the Secretary-General had failed. The Union vigorously supports the continuation of the good offices of the Secretary-General and of the negotiations on the basis of his proposals. We have called on all the interested parties to spare no effort in finding a fair, operational and viable solution and, more specifically, we have called on the Turkish Cypriot leadership to re-examine its position.
Within this framework, the priority of the Turkish partnership to support efforts to find an overall solution to the Cyprus question through the good offices of the Secretary-General and negotiations based on his proposals continues to be of decisive importance. The President of the European Council also referred to this matter in recent public statements. The government of the Republic of Cyprus has demonstrated in practice its will to facilitate such a solution. The protocol on Cyprus attached to the Association Agreement also allows a margin for this development. But our common will is to achieve something along these lines by 1 May 2004. The recent opening of the green line constitutes material proof that the two communities on the island can and will live and progress together. However, practical changes imposed from below, by society, are no substitute for institutional solutions. These must come about and only thus will Cyprus safeguard the new horizon to which it is entitled after so many years. The Union and we, as the Presidency and as a Member State, support the need to find a solution on the basis of the Annan plan.
As far, then, as the question of a peaceful solution to the differences is concerned, a change in the atmosphere of Greek-Turkish relations has already been noted in various sectors. Exploratory contacts between the two ministries of foreign affairs started in March 2002. Discussions are continuing between senior officials. The improved climate has resulted in increased bilateral exchanges and a series of agreements. However, on the other side, the Turkish side, certain practices are being observed, such as by the Turkish air force, which are out of keeping with the aim of deeper relations between Turkey and the Union. We are looking forward to further progress in this sector on the basis of the principle of a peaceful solution to the differences in accordance with the Helsinki conclusions and the relative priority of the partnership. As decided in Helsinki, the Council will examine the situation in relation to the outstanding differences and, more importantly, their repercussions on the integration process, with a view to promoting their settlement through the International Court in the Hague by the end of 2004 at the latest.
In closing, allow me to welcome once again Parliament's acute interest in the integration strategy for Turkey. We shall continue to cooperate with a view to repeating here the clear success which accompanied the political message of enlargement: extension of the area of peace, stability and prosperity and the abolition of the dividing lines of the past. We especially welcome the fact that the policy for the enlargement of the Union is continuing and is a basic incentive for countries, especially candidate countries such as Turkey, prompting them to further reforms in order to safeguard the values and principles I referred to earlier. We also welcome the fact that this objective is also the stated wish of the Turkish people and the policy of its elected government. We are looking forward to the necessary progress being achieved by the deadlines set, so that we can safeguard a positive and auspicious future for relations between the Union and Turkey.
As you know, Turkey is an important partner of the Union, with which we have maintained contractual relations for a very long time. You can go back as far as 1963. However, the turning point in this 30-year period was the European Council in Helsinki, when Turkey was acknowledged as a candidate country for accession to the Union on the basis of the same criteria that apply to the other candidate countries. In Helsinki, the aim of the accession strategy adopted was to help Turkey on its course towards integration and included reinforced political dialogue, pre-accession aid and a procedure for analytical examination of the application of the
. The cornerstone of this pre-accession strategy was the partnership of March 2001, with principles, priorities and interim objectives which would allow Turkey to meet the Copenhagen criteria. Within this framework, it is necessary to emphasise that important elements are not only the adaptation of legislation in relation to the Copenhagen criteria, but also its material application. And the Commission has clearly underlined this point, mainly in the annual progress reports.
We have recently monitored certain important internal developments in Turkey. A new government has taken over power, with strong support from the people. The new prime minister, Mr Erdogan, has clearly stated that he intends to continue and strengthen the reform process, so that Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria. Recent surveys have also shown that this objective is shared by an important majority of public opinion in Turkey. And I think that this political will is, you might say, reflected in actions and not just words.
At the Copenhagen Council, the Union itself recognised that the new Turkish Government was resolved to proceed with further reform and it urged it in particular to deal quickly with all the weaknesses which continue to exist in the field of political criteria, in relation both to legislation and to the application of legislation. Within this framework, the Union encouraged Turkey to actively continue the reform process. If the European Council in December 2004, based on the Commission's report and recommendation, decides that Turkey meets the political criteria of Copenhagen, the Union will renew accession negotiations with Turkey without delay. That was, as you all know, a very weighty decision for the future of relations between the European Union and Turkey. We hope that this prospect will act as a catalyst and encourage Turkey to adopt and apply the necessary reforms. However, I should like at this point for us to see what the situation looks likes six months after Copenhagen.
Ladies and gentlemen, during the Greek Presidency, we have worked systematically to implement the elements of the accession strategy in accordance with the decisions taken in Copenhagen. The revised partnership adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council in April 2003 is of particular importance in helping Turkey to deal with the main issues in its attempt to meet the political criteria. A revised national programme for the adoption of the
with clearly defined targets, is expected to constitute Turkey's planned response to the new partnership. Similarly, we have held three political dialogue meetings, one of which at ministerial level, when we had an opportunity to see exactly what is expected of Turkey up to the end of 2004. The Presidency and the Commission have planned another two meetings in the more specific aim of examining progress in meeting the political criteria. The Association Council was convened in April at ministerial level and evaluated the progress both of the pre-accession strategy and the status of the partnership.
At this point, I should like, guided by the recently adopted revised partnership, to refer with greater clarity to the main issues that we expect Turkey to deal with up to its evaluation in 2004. Of course, this is not intended either to discount the Commission evaluation within the framework of this year's, and more importantly, next year's progress report, nor does it have to do with any other criteria over and above the Copenhagen criteria. The partnership was the product of valuable experience from two years of helping Turkey to adopt political reforms. This means that efficient account was taken of lessons from recent years, following discussion, both by the Commission and by the Council, which adopted it with slight changes.
What I want to say is that, as we see it, there are two basic issues for promoting Turkey's essential candidature status. First, democracy has to operate in this country without the obstacles of the past and, secondly, the institutional changes voted through by parliament need to be translated into real administrative and judicial practice. Political control by the parliament and via a democratically controlled government of all the institutions and bodies of state is, therefore, a basic issue which Turkey will need to address effectively. This also involves the simple legal adaptation of the rules and raises telling and very material issues in connection with relations between the elected government and the army. The Union has also publicly referred to this issue and emphasised that there cannot be practices that result in deviations from the Copenhagen criteria and we have noticed that there have recently also been corresponding examples with reference to internal and/or external policy.
On the question of human rights and the rule of law, there has undoubtedly been progress, even in sectors which a short time ago were considered prohibited. We must not forget that the abolition of the death penalty and the introduction of the right to use and teach minority languages are a big step forward. And Turkey itself appears to wish to proceed at a fast pace and to achieve the start of accession negotiations by set deadlines. It is important that we know this ambition, for the realisation of which quite a lot still needs to be done.
At the Association Council last April, the Union clarified the fact that basic outstanding issues in the field of political criteria require Turkey's immediate attention. These issues mainly include, by way of example, numerous accusations of torture chambers in the country, references to arbitrary arrests and practices of detaining people without judicial proceedings in south-eastern Turkey, contradictory judgments in relation to the punishment of those guilty of torture, court cases which demonstrate that there is still no uniform interpretation and application of provisions relating to the freedom of expression, and the regime concerning religious foundations and communities, which remains particularly restrictive. We have already expressed our concern about the way in which religious foundations are treated and we continue to hope that the Turkish side will keep its promises, so that, with the necessary additional reforms, the problems that have arisen can be dealt with in accordance with international norms."@en1
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