Strasbourg, 24/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, on Wednesday 24 October, of a resolution on relations between the EU and Turkey, the European Parliament (EP) is calling on the Commission to specify, in its regular report, issues which Turkey must take a look at as a priority and to stress the need to achieve the short- and medium-term objectives laid down in the partnership for accession. The MEPs hope that the new Turkish government, which was given a strong mandate and which can count on broad popular support, will relaunch the reform process to come into line with commitments taken in the accession partnership.
The recent elections have proved the willingness of the Turkish people to make progress towards stability and reform. This positive statement on the part of the president of the Council, Manuel LoboAntunes, was accompanied by the request for a broad national debate on the constitution and on reform, which will be vital in order to apply the partnership agreement, which is to be reviewed in the coming months. Vital reforms (a great many MEPs agreed with the Council on this point) are the revision of article 301 of the penal code on the freedom of expression, respect for religious plurality and the exercise of civil control over the military, in order to prevent them from abusing their political influence. Lastly, the Council insisted not only on respect for the Copenhagen criteria, but on the ratification of the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement.
Turkey experienced a troubled period at the beginning of the year, said Olli Rehn, but it is now on the right track to resume the reforms expected of it (freedoms, penal code, the legal system in general, women's rights and the fight against corruption). Referring to recent Turkish action against the PKK (see EUROPE 9528), Mr Rehn recognised that Turkey, which has been the target of recent recurrent attacks from the Kurdish PKK independence movement, has every right to protect its population, but always proportionately. The prospect of accession, the commissioner for enlargement pointed out, has been a strong driver of reform and modernisation in the country. He feels that the time has come to open new chapters of negotiation (on consumers, health and the trans-Europe networks). The Commission will publish its report on the state of play with negotiations on 6 November.
The rapporteur, Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED, Netherlands), called upon the Council to take position on the Commission's text in the very near future. Our resolution, she added, represents a kind of “to-do list” for Turkey, which is not keeping silent about its shortcomings, and pleaded in favour of new impetus for the reform process. On the question of Armenia, the rapporteur called upon the Commission to encourage contact between Turkey and Armenia. Speaking on behalf of the Socialist Group, the Austrian member Hannes Swoboda reiterated his belief that the solution to the conflict with the PKK must be a political one, and the German member Alexander Lambsdorff (ALDE) urged the Turkish people to understand that it was in their own interest that the reforms are carried out. As to (justified) measures against terrorism, these must always be balanced and limited in space and time. The “decisive” reaction of Turkey to the recent attacks by the PKK, said the Italian member Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), makes the geopolitical situation of the country even more difficult (he deplored the fact that the country “still refuses to recognise the Armenian genocide”). Europe, Mr Musumeci added, must decide “whether it wants a larger political identity or a strong cultural identity” (Ed: opening the door to Turkey if the former, or rejecting it if the latter). According to the Dutch MEP Joost Lagendijk (Greens/EFA), Europe must also send a message to the PKK, so that it understands that its terrorist activity harms the cause of the Kurds. Speaking on behalf of the GUE/Nordic Left, the Cypriot member Kyriacos Triantaphyllides acknowledged some progress towards reform, but pointed out that it is imperative to find a solution to the problem of Cyprus (a subject which was taken up repeatedly during the debate by Greek and Cypriot MEPs, as well as MEPs of other nationalities). The Belgian Philippe Claeys (Identity and Tradition) has the impression that in any debate on Turkey, accession seems to be a done deal: however, he is convinced that the vast majority of Europeans do not want it and would prefer the solution of the privileged partnership. In the view of the Italian Marco Cappato (ALDE), Europe is sending out a contradictory message (by Nicolas Sarkozy, among others), by clearly stating that it cannot join the Union (Mr Cappato insisted, however, that it will only be able to do so if it undertakes significant reforms and proves that it is a state which adheres to the rule of law). German member Werner Langen (EPP-ED) takes the view that Turkey's full accession to the Union is the only possible outcome: Turkey itself must ask itself whether it really wants to go down this path. Mr Langen was one of very many who took the floor, who fears drift in the fight against terrorism and who called on Turkey to acknowledge the historical reality of the Armenian genocide. Yes, Turkey must open a serious debate on its past, said Dutch Socialist Jan Wiersma, who also sees the new constitution as a possible means of finding a political solution to the situation of the Kurds. Responding to questions from the MEPs about Armenia, Olli Rehn stated that the revision of article 301 could allow a real debate to be opened on this issue, whilst paving the way for a genuine reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia. (L.G./A.B.)