Thursday

28th Mar 2024

MEPs defy Turkey on eve of entry talks

  • MEPs called Turkish recognition of the Armenian genocide a "prerequisite for accession" (Photo: European Commission)

In a strong message of frustration with the Turkish stance on Cyprus, the European Parliament on Wednesday postponed the ratification of a key customs agreement with Ankara - dismaying the commission, but not endangering the start of entry talks on 3 October.

Under EU law, the European Parliament has to formally ratify an agreement on the extension of the customs agreement between the EU and Turkey to all new member states - including Cyprus, which Ankara does not recognise.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

But the conservative EPP group in the parliament today (28 September) successfully achieved suspension of ratification of the deal, with 311 against 285 MEPs voting to postpone the ratification.

EPP group leader Hans-Gert Pottering said ahead of the vote that there had not been any "appropriate statement" by the Turkish government on Ankara's commitment to the customs agreement.

MEPs had demanded a public guarantee from Turkey that the Turkish parliament, in its ratification process, would not at the same time endorse Ankara's unilateral declaration issued last June saying that Turkey does not recognise Cyprus.

Formal ratification of the agreement by the European and Turkish parliaments is no precondition for the opening of EU membership talks with Turkey, scheduled for 3 October.

But the commission said today it regretted the Parliament's decision.

Enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn stated "Unfortunately today's decision does not strengthen our position in urging Turkey to stick to its commitment, that is following the signature, to ratify and implement the protocol without delay".

The commission and member states are pressing Ankara to first ratify and then fully implement the customs agreement, meaning that Ankara is obliged to stop blocking Cypriot ships and planes from its territory.

But now the commission claims MEPs have complicated these efforts by blocking ratification by the EU itself.

Socialist and liberal MEPs also regretted the postponement of the ratification, with liberal MEP Andrew Duff describing the decision as "stupid, short-sighted and mean-spirited".

Resolution seeks tough human rights guarantees

The Parliament in a separate resolution backed the opening of membership negotiations with Turkey on 3 October.

But the resolution, which is non-binding, further pressurises Ankara by highlighting Turkish failures in meeting human rights standards.

The text explicitly mentions the case of Orhan Pamuk, a well-read author who was recently charged by a Turkish prosecutor to have "denigrated" the nation by publicly raising the issue of the Armenian genocide in 1915.

MEPs urged the commission to suspend the accession talks once started, in case of a persistent breach of human rights or the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

The parliament called for further guarantees by demanding that each session of the negotiations at ministerial level be preceded by "an assessment of the political criteria in both theory and practice, thus exerting permanent pressure on the Turkish authorities to maintain the pace of the necessary reforms".

Following an amendment by French MEPs, the parliament resolution also calls on Turkey to recognise the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915, considering this a "prerequisite for accession to the European Union".

The Euro-Armenian federation last week staged a high-profile conference in the parliament, drawing attention to the issue.

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  2. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  3. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  4. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  5. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult
  6. EU unveils plan to create a European cross-border degree
  7. How migrants risk becoming drug addicts along Balkan route
  8. 2024: A Space Odyssey — why the galaxy needs regulating

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us