EU-Turkey: cooperation relaunched but without accession. The French decision to lift its veto to opening an important chapter of the negotiations between the EU and Turkey (see EUROPE 10875) is a step towards relaunching reciprocal relations, but in no way towards Turkish membership of the EU. In Paris the explanation has been given that the objective of the gesture is to bring fresh momentum to the relationship between Turkey and the EU and that France is committed to bringing a tangible contribution to this dynamic. The European commissioner, Stefan Füle, has said that the French step brings momentum to make 2013 a turning point in Euro-Turkish relations. And Hélène Flautre, the co-chair of the joint EU-Turkey parliamentary committee, has stated that the French gesture breathes new life into reciprocal relations and constitutes support to peace and democracy in Turkey and in the region. There has never been any mention of the term accession.
On the Turkish side, it will never formally be said that EU membership is being renounced because in Ankara compensatory measures and guarantees are rightly being negotiated, especially with regard to trade. Yet at the same time Turkish domestic tendencies are strengthening the Muslim character of the country and public opinion is largely detached from the idea of becoming a member of the EU - opinion polls prove it. Turkish foreign policy is increasingly oriented in other directions than that of Europe. On the European side, Europe of course has no interest in the Kurdish issue becoming an internal issue for the EU.
These developments are equally positive for both sides - yes to strengthened links but without EU membership.
Correct definition of fanatic Islamism. The forbidden word has been pronounced - top level personalities have used the term fascism to describe the attitude of intolerant Muslim groups which are using violence to impose their fanaticism. Pillaging, destroying cultural or religious sites and - in particular - being violent to women are their specialities. In the face of this fanaticism, Unesco (the UN organisation for education, science and culture) is powerless to carry out its task of protecting the heritage of humanity - this has already been seen in previous cases. Laurent Joffrin, the director of the weekly Nouvel Observateur, has written that in some countries of the Maghreb Islamic fundamentalists “are doing exactly what the fascist parties did in Europe in the 1930s”.
It is true that at the same time, in Tunisia and elsewhere, there are forces which are fighting for freedom and democracy. A few weeks ago the Tunisian president, Moncef Marzouki, was very moving when he spoke to the European Parliament in Brussels about defending the democratic regime in his country - but the government seems much weaker in defending freedom, and in particular the rights of women which were introduced by Habib Bourguiba in his time and against which the new fascists are now fighting. Today women are courageously fighting to defend what they have acquired - but at what great risk!
The countries of the Maghreb obviously have the right to choose their regimes. But the EU can't conclude agreements of a global nature with countries that don't respect freedom and democracy, the equality of women, secular rights movements, and so on. In the absence of this, a certain amount of economic cooperation can continue, but that's all. The European Parliament has to recognise this.
The “made in” revolution. Of all the positive European innovations, the one that aims to introduce the obligatory indication of origin of products (see EUROPE 10785) is doubtless among the most important, in the face the astronomical number of products that are presented as European and in reality originate elsewhere. The legal strengthening of the made in (with the obligatory indication of the member state of production or of the EU as a whole) will enable a product to be traced back to its true place of production. This is all fine and good - but the scandal of the lasagnes calls (even if the new regulation doesn't directly target food products) for the avoidance - through specific arrangements - of the made in the EU or in a member state indication corresponding only to the place of assembly of the separate pieces originating a bit from everywhere. It is crucial to put an end to the distribution of products that are indicated as European but which are not. Yet internal discipline and clarity are just as crucial.
An American lesson. The vigour of American lawsuits against the abuses of ratings agencies is heartening. Similar vigour from Europe against the abuses of the financial world would be most desirable - but it is coming to the fore slowly. The good examples should be followed wherever they arise.
(FR/transl.fl)