The conclusions published by the General Affairs Council have received mixed reactions from the countries involved (see EUROPE 12277/6, 12277/7). While Turkey has condemned the decision made by Europe, North Macedonia and Albania are biding their time and remaining optimistic about opening accession negotiations with the EU.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that “these conclusions show how far the EU is from understanding the actions taken by Turkey despite the circumstances in which it finds itself and the challenges it faces”, stating that it “rejected” them. The Ministry went on to say that “Turkey will continue to act in a resolute and sincere manner as part of the EU process, despite the EU's biased approach”. The Ministry believes that it is not Turkey that is moving away from the EU “as claimed”, but the EU that is “pushing Turkey away by not acting in a fair and honest manner”.
The Ministry's statement goes into detail on the Cyprus issue. The Ministry claimed that “the EU made a serious mistake in 2004 when it accepted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member of the EU. Because of this mistake, the EU is now downgrading relations between Turkey and the EU on the Cyprus issue and is becoming a hostage to the Greek Cypriots”. Consequently, “it is clear that the EU has produced the conclusions in a partisan manner and from the Greek Cypriot perspective alone”, it said. And, in the Ministry’s opinion, the EU has acted “as an interest group involved in negotiations rather than as a community defending principles and values”, has acted like a “court” and has made “biased and politically motivated” statements “on sensitive issues such as the demarcation of maritime borders”. Turkey therefore called on the EU to change its “biased and unrealistic approach”.
North Macedonia and Albania remain optimistic
The North Macedonian Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, and his Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, remained optimistic, even though the opening of their countries' accession negotiations was postponed once again.
Mr Zaev commented that “it was crucial for us that this decision was made this year and the conclusions confirm this”. He added that “the Council's conclusions have allowed us to establish the exact period when the decision to start negotiations will be approved and confirmed, i.e. no later than October this year”. The conclusions are not quite so positive, saying only that the Council will consider the issue again by October at the latest.
According to the Macedonian Prime Minister, the conclusions show “strong and unequivocal recognition” of the reforms and agreements with Bulgaria and Greece, meaning that the efforts made by his country have not been in vain. “We are continuing with intensive preparations for the formal opening of negotiations by the end of 2019”, he added.
In Mr Rama’s opinion, the Councils decisions are “very positive news from Europe on the path to opening negotiations". “Despite the trouble on the political front, which is doing everything it can to damage the country in Europe's eyes by blocking negotiations with insults, threats and Molotov cocktails (...), Albania continues to resist” he added, while opposition demonstrations continue in the country. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)