News Release
No. 135/04
October 6, 2004
EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT ROMANO PRODI
ON DECISION TO OPEN MEMBERSHIP TALKS WITH TURKEY
European Commission President
Romano Prodi
made the following speech to the European Parliament today concerning the Commission’s
recommendation that the EU open membership negotiations with Turkey:
"It is an honour for me, together with
Günter Verheugen, to present before you the Recommendation and Report on Turkey’s
application, which the
Copenhagen European Council of December 2002 asked the Commission to draw
up in readiness for examination by the European Council in December 2004. As Parliament
wished, these documents are accompanied by a preliminary appraisal of the main
issues arising in connection with the prospect of Turkey’s accession, with particular
regard to EU policies and the Community budget.
"The Commission has just adopted these documents after several exploratory
debates on the subject and following a long preparatory period which concludes
with today’s debate. It is a natural part of our democratic process for us to
present these results to you at the same time as we inform the Council.
"As you know, the first task allotted to us by the Copenhagen European Council
was to draw up a report on the extent to which Turkey meets the Copenhagen political
criteria and to put forward a recommendation. However, I should like to stress
that it is, of course, the European Council itself – as it made abundantly clear
in its December 2002 decision – to decide whether the criteria are being met and
whether to open negotiations with Turkey.
"The Commission’s task was thus to analyse, as objectively and precisely
as possible, Turkey’s state of progress with regard to these criteria, and to
draw up a recommendation to the Council on the basis of this analysis and any
other relevant factors, including the impact study requested by Parliament.
"The Commission’s response today is YES. That is to say, its response as
regards compliance with the criteria is positive, and it recommends opening negotiations.
"However, it is a QUALIFIED YES that is accompanied by a large number of
recommendations on following up and monitoring the situation in Turkey, and some
specific recommendations on the conduct of negotiations.
"I want to draw your attention to these two aspects, which are inseparably
linked as far as we are concerned. In all sincerity, I appeal to the European
public, Parliament, the Council and to our Turkish partners – the people of Turkey
and the Turkish Government – not to separate these two aspects: on the one hand
our response, which is positive overall, and on the other the provisos that form
the essential key to the success of the whole process of integrating Turkey into
the European Union.
"How has the Commission come up with this response?
"Firstly, as regards Turkey’s compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, the
Commission has, as I have already noted, tried to present as objective and precise
a picture as possible. Nothing has been concealed, covered up or distorted, neither
the positive nor the negative aspects. On the positive side, the whole of Turkish
society has been committed to a very far-reaching reform process, particularly
over the last few years. In short, as regards the essential documents on the organisation
of democracy in Turkey – the Constitution itself, all the internal laws and Turkey’s
accession to the various international conventions, whose primacy over its domestic
laws it now recognises – Turkey has reached the level required by European standards
in such matters – or will do so once the new Criminal Code recently adopted by
its Parliament enters into force.
"All these instruments are already having a strong impact on public life
and behaviour in Turkey. Two examples are the abolition of the death
penalty and the recent review of Leila Zana's trial and her release. However,
much remains to be done to implement these texts in full and to bring actual reality
in Turkey closer to practices in the countries of the European Union. The report
draws attention to the situation as regards torture, women’s rights, trade union
rights, religious freedom and relations between civil and military authorities.
A great deal has been achieved in these areas and progress is clearly visible
– especially over the last few years. Nonetheless, much remains to be done.
"This accounts for our position, which is positive, but at the same time
cautious. Looking at today's snapshot, we have to admit there are still some blurred
areas. If we consider the long‑term picture, however, we see an increasingly
active Turkish civil society and institutions that clearly project their desire
to move towards our democratic values and standards and which are, indeed, making
rapid progress in this direction. This is what prompts us to say YES. But at the
same time, we have to ensure that these developments really are irreversible and
that they will be pursued to completion. We must take the time needed to make
sure that all the important reforms adopted become day-to-day reality for Turkish
citizens, both men and women. And we must also tell our Turkish partners clearly
and calmly that any breakdown in this progress towards democracy, human rights,
fundamental rights and the rule of law as practised in the European Union will
automatically bring negotiations to a halt.
"To take an entirely different angle, our impact study indicates that the
overall balance is positive. Taking all the relevant factors into account, we
believe that Turkey’s accession to the EU may make a positive contribution to
the Union. However, the country’s size, geographical position and traditions as
a regional power, its defence capacity, population and demographic growth, its
current level of development, the disparities between its regions, its infrastructure
and the size of its rural and farming population call for profound reflection
and clear precautions in conducting accession negotiations, so as to prevent Turkey’s
integration from weakening the structure we have been building for over 50 years.
"The impact study we are presenting today is modest in its claims. It does
not seek to be exhaustive or to predict the future while essential parameters
such as economic growth in Turkey and the Union remain uncertain. Nonetheless,
it does already draw attention to various sectors that will require lengthy periods
of preparation and adjustment in Turkey’s policies, notably rural and farming
policy. Long transition periods will be needed, and sometimes, as with the free
movement of persons, permanent safeguard clauses could prove necessary.
"An estimate has been made of the impact of Turkey’s accession on the budget.
Bearing in mind all the methodological precautions that are needed when it comes
to interpreting such figures, which depend on parameters that are, as I said,
uncertain, the main political lesson to be drawn from this estimate is that Turkish
integration cannot be included in the 2007-2013 budgetary perspective on which
negotiations have started on the basis of proposals put forward by the Commission
some months ago. This means that negotiations on the chapters of the Turkish accession
treaty that have financial implications can only be started on the basis of the
financial perspective for the following period. This is consistent with the prudent
pace of negotiations to which I referred earlier.
"Finally, as with all negotiation processes, particularly those that are
as complex as our study indicates, we must stress that the outcome is not a foregone
conclusion. There are risks that we must take on board, and that we also ask Turkey
to take on board. However, we cannot imagine a future for Europe in which Turkey
is not firmly anchored.
"Honourable Members, this is the main burden of the message I wanted to convey
to you today on behalf of the Commission, to which Günter Verheugen will add further
details. We are ready to reply to all your questions, but firstly I would like
to conclude by addressing myself to Turkey and then, through you, to the European
public.
"I want to send a message of confidence to Turkey, its people and its government.
In responding positively today, the Commission is acknowledging your historic
aspiration, in which Atatürk stands as a landmark, to share fully in the destiny
and values of Europe. Likewise, it acknowledges the extent of the efforts made
over the last few years to translate this aspiration into the organisation and
operation of your democracy. Nonetheless, much ground remains to be covered before
this objective can be fully attained, and I appeal to you to show the same determination
in pursuing further reforms and wisely conducting an accession process which,
like all the others, will display both periods of progress and moments of tension
and unavoidable difficulties.
"I want to call on the European public to demonstrate equal perseverance.
A Europe with self-confidence and a Constitution, strong institutions and well‑established
policies, which is in the process of recovering economic growth and is underpinned
by its model of peace, prosperity and solidarity, has nothing to fear from Turkey’s
accession. The integration of Turkey is only one of the many challenges facing
us. The biggest of these challenges are internal ones. We must also consider the
opportunities that Turkey’s integration will bring us in terms of growth and prosperity.
We must, above all, bear in mind the message of the founding fathers of our Europe
and the project of disseminating the values of peace, security, democracy and
cooperation throughout our continent and among our peoples and nations."
|
Press Contacts:
|
Anthony Gooch
202-862-9523
|
Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
|
