Meeting informally in Malta on 28 April, the EU’s foreign affairs ministers seemed divided on the future of relations between Turkey and the EU.
“The discussion was quite responsible. There were no gaffes, even if there were hints”, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told a small group of journalists, including from EUROPE, after the meeting (the first since the 16 April referendum in Turkey). “Everyone is aware that the path [talking about Turkey] needs to be found while remaining very clear on the principle of rights. No one wants to ignore Turkey (…) No one wants a breakdown”, he said, adding that “at the same time, being firm on the principles is a way of saying to Turkey: ‘we are holding out our hand to you, it is now for you to respond'”. “Being frank and clear cannot be negative. It can only be constructive”, Ayrault stated.
On arriving at the Council, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said it was important to show responsibility and to remain committed to the discussions. “It is easy to close the door, but it is important to be more responsible, to preserve what we have created. It is for the good of both parties, and also of the region”, he added, saying also that increasing the gap between the parties would “not be fruitful or rational”.
Many ministers underlined the EU’s values. In Ayrault’s view, “Turkey has nothing to fear from democracy – on the contrary, this strengthens it and makes it credible”. “We must really see where Turkey is in terms of its relations with Europe. It is a strategic partner, there is no doubt about it (…) But, of course, we are worried about developments in terms of democracy and human rights”, said Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. “Being a member of the EU means focusing on values and these values must be supported by concrete measures. You cannot say one thing and go in the opposite direction”, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Miroslav Laják stated. In his view, a partnership is needed that it based on principles that are understood and agreed by both sides. “That is not what we have, and it is not good”, he added.
“If it continues to be a candidate country, then there are the Copenhagen criteria [to respect]”, Portugal’s Foreign Minister Angusto Santos Silva said, underlining his country’s support to accession as long as Ankara respects these criteria. While Germany’s minister, Sigmar Gabriel, clearly said that his country was opposed to cancelling the accession negotiations with Turkey because this would be “a totally mistaken response” and would risk pushing the Turks towards Russia, his Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, for his part kept a hard line. “It is important to talk with Turkey, but the path [for it to take] cannot be accession”, he said. “Contact with Turkey yes, but accession, no”, he insisted. In Kurz’s view, “with the referendum, many people think the red line has been crossed”.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticised the EU’s doublespeak on human rights. “I don’t remember very clearly that when the European institutions wanted to make a migration agreement they worked hard on human rights”, he said, adding that it was important not to set up double standards. “When we need Turkey, we forget everything else. When we want to hit at Turkey, we would like to forget the migration agreement”, he added, calling for dialogue.
According to a diplomatic source, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn suggested, during the informal meeting in Malta, proposing an assessment of Turkeys’ respect of the Copenhagen criteria, but the ministers rejected his suggestion. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)