Brussels, 05/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission is expected to give a green-light to Turkey for opening accession negotiations. A range of conditions and safeguards are expected and there will probably not be a date given for launching discussions. At the end of the meeting of Heads of Cabinet of the 25 Commissioners on Monday evening, a majority supported the proposals of the Prodi-Verheugen proposals, indicated a European source. The definitive text will not be known until the end of the College meeting on Wednesday. Discussions are continuing between the cabinets of Commissioners supporting or opposing Turkey's accession, notably with regard to the permanent safeguard clause on freedom of movement. The European Union has imposed temporary restrictions (maximum of 7 years) on the possibility of nationals from the ten new Member States working in the rest of the European Union. The Commission will be proposing that Turkey imposes a permanent safeguard clause, which would reintroduce barriers at the borders if large numbers of Turkish workers arrive.
The European Commission could possibly not give a date for opening negotiations and leave it up to the European Council to decide on 17 December. The latter could choose a calendar based on ratification of the constitution in Member States in order to prevent the two debates getting confused. Nevertheless, at the European Council of Copenhagen of December in 2002, Member States were committed to opening negotiations "without delay" once Turkey had fulfilled the required criteria. "Without delay" means a priori between 4-6 months, the time to technically prepare the launch of discussions. The Turkish minister Mehmet Aydin declared to the NTV television channel that a longer deadline would be taken badly.
It is likely that the European Commission will include in its recommendation for opening negotiations, that there will not be a guarantee that Turkey joins the EU. The Commission is also expected to outline that each chapter in the negotiations will not be considered finished until all the reforms are implemented. It will explain very clearly what this will involve. This will be used to reassure public opinion, indicated European sources.
The future president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, supported the announcement by French president Jacques Chirac for holding a referendum in France at the end of negotiations on Turkish accession. In a press conference in Lisbon, Barroso said that it was a mistake to think that a decision of this importance can be taken against the will of European citizens.