Over dinner on Thursday 19 October, the EU heads of state or government are expected to discuss relations between the EU and Turkey.
"The objective is not to redefine our relations but to take stock of where we are with Turkey since the attempted coup" on 15 July, a national source stated. "It will be the opportunity for an update on each of the big areas of cooperation with Turkey", the source added, saying that the conclusion of the discussion between the leaders will be "to consider that the time has not come for any further engagement or for any unilateral act of stopping the dialogue or relations".
While Turkey is an EU accession country, it is also a strategic partner of the EU – be it in the economic domain, or in that of counter-terrorism or managing the migration crisis. There is currently a de facto freeze in the accession negotiations because the opening of new negotiation chapters requires unanimity from the EU member states – which does not exist, due in particular to Turkey's human rights situation. "Most member states consider the de facto freeze reflects the situation well and that it is not a question of unfreezing. But there would not be much to gain in moving beyond this de facto observation", the source stated.
Similarly, negotiations on updating the customs union are not moving forward and nor are those on visa liberalisation. "On visas, the situation is blocked with regard to Turkey due to it not fulfilling the conditions" (such as amending its legislation on terrorism). "Beyond these conditions, no one can plan for visa relaxation" as things currently stand, the same source added. Germany would also like to talk to its partners about reducing Turkey's pre-accession funds.
North Korea, Iran and defence on leaders' agenda
The EU heads of state or government are also expected to discuss North Korea and the nuclear agreement with Iran. According to the draft conclusions obtained by EUROPE, the European Council is reportedly planning new measures against North Korea "in close cooperation with partners", while saying that the EU will continue its contact with third countries so that they fully apply the United Nations-decided sanctions against North Korea (see EUROPE 11884). The European Council is also expected to call on North Korea to carry out, immediately and unconditionally, its obligations stemming from the UN Security Council resolutions, and to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes fully, verifiably and irreversibly. The draft conclusions add that North Korea's recent behaviour is "unacceptable".
On Iran, the leaders are expected simply to reaffirm their "total commitment" to the nuclear agreement, subscribing to the statement of the EU foreign ministers on 16 October, which calls for the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties.
Before dinner, during their plenary session, the heads of state or government will discuss European defence. According to the draft conclusions, the European Council is expected to request full implementation of the permanent structured cooperation (PSC or PESCO) by the end of the year. It is also apparently expected to call for progress on the Commission's proposal for a European defence industrial development programme (EDIDP) "as soon as possible" so that the first capacity projects identified by the member states can be financed in 2019 from the European defence fund. The European Council is expected to return to defence issues in December 2017 "and will assess the progress made on all aspects of the external security and defence agenda" as defined in December 2016 (see EUROPE 11691), the draft conclusions also state. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and the editorial team)