Brussels, 10/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - Difficult to say what the timetable set by the Fifteen in Copenhagen for Turkey's accession process will be, but it seems sure that a target date for opening negotiations will certainly be set. The date itself, and whether or not there should be a six month period between the firm decision and the launch of negotiations, will only be decided by the Heads of State and Government in Copenhagen. The question of Turkey was broached mainly over the dinner that preceded the Council, Monday evening. At the end of the Council, Tuesday, Council chairman Per Stig Moeller declared that the Franco-German proposal "will inspire" the decision of the Fifteen, but that he could not say "what the final text will be". He also recalled one point underpinned by all: the EU "wants to see the reforms implemented" before taking a firm decision on the opening of negotiations.
There was, according to many diplomats, "fairly broad support" for the Franco-German proposal of beginning negotiations in July 2005 on condition that an in-depth examination of the situation, undertaken six months earlier, in December 2004, demonstrates that Turkey meets the required political criteria. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told the press of "very broad support" on the part of Member States, referring to the support of 10 countries. French sources speak of a dozen countries in favour, counting out those countries that want to make a more generous offer. Several other diplomats find it "difficult to do the arithmetic", as positions are not so set, as well as because "much may change between now and Copenhagen". Several Ministers are said only to have believed that the Franco-German proposal "could be acceptable". Developments of these past few days - Erdogan's visit to Washington on Tuesday to seek support on the part of the United State, certain clumsy statements - are said to have irritated some Member States and play a part in the reluctance of some of them to provide a firm position in Copenhagen on Tuesday. A great deal will also depend on developments in discussions on Cyprus and Turkey's attitude vis-à-vis the European security and defence policy.
The United Kingdom, followed by Spain, Greece and Italy, would like to begin negotiations as early as the first half of 2004, having, in 2003, assessed progress made by Turkey. Austria and the Netherlands, on the other hand, are reluctant to the very principle of setting a "date for a date" before having assessed Turkey's implementation of the reforms.
In Ankara, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul reiterated the demand that a date be set in Copenhagen, calling on the Fifteen "not to play with Turkey". "If Turkey is victim of injustice in Copenhagen, it will be the result of a political decision by European leaders. If they use guile and pretexts faced with our clear, honest and courageous behaviour, that'll be their decision", he said, according to AFP.