Luxembourg, 25/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 25 June, European foreign affairs ministers decided “politically” to open the negotiation chapter on regional policy and coordination of the structural instruments (chapter 22) with Turkey. However, the conference for opening this chapter will take place in the autumn at the earliest. “The Council agrees to open chapter 22 and underscores that the inter-governmental conference with Turkey will take place after the presentation of the Commission's annual progress report [in October] and following a discussion of the General Affairs Council which will confirm the common position of the Council for the opening of chapter 22 and determine the date for the accession conference”, says the Council statement.
Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoglu welcomed the agreement, saying that “chapter 22 has been opened. This issue is resolved.” In a statement, Davutoglu says he is “pleased to see the consensus obtained on the chapter of opening”. He said that this is a step in the right direction.
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle welcomed the agreement and “the common position” on his Twitter account. In the view of the president of the General Affairs Council, Ireland's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Eamon Gilmore, the accession process is the most effective tool the EU has for influencing the reform agenda in Turkey. He said that the increase in reforms inspired by the EU has facilitated peaceful protest and given room to dissident voices. He continued that the protests have shown that Ankara must pursue its reforms.
“In the light of recent events and the response of the representatives of the Turkish government to European criticism (see EUROPE 10872), I understand the Council's decision only to open chapter 22 after developments that will be appropriately assessed in the progress report”, said European Parliament rapporteur Ria Oomen Ruijten (EPP, Netherlands), expecting the European Parliament to be involved in the assessment and the comments of the resolution adopted on 13 June to be taken into account (see EUROPE 10866). Oomen Ruijten said that “it would be all the more important (…) to increase our cooperation in the domains of justice and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security” - in other words, chapters 23 and 24 that are blocked by the Republic of Cyprus (our translation).
Although an Irish source stated on the evening of 24 June that Turkey had not been on the Council agenda, the Irish Presidency, in the end, decided to include it. Three countries - Germany, the Netherlands and Austria - put up objections to the opening of this chapter because of the Turkish government's response to the peaceful demonstrations. German Minister for Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle, who had had several telephone conversations with his Turkish counterpart, put forward different proposals during the bilateral discussions with his partners on 24 June on the opening of the chapter - including waiting for the progress report in October. However, his Danish counterpart, Villy Sovndal, pointed out that this is also “after the German parliamentary elections” that take place in September. (CG/transl.fl)