Finnish presidency to support further EU enlargement
Finland has said it will back further EU enlargement when it takes on the EU rotating presidency in July, giving a boost to EU hopefuls Croatia and Turkey.
Visiting the Croatian capital of Zagreb on Thursday (18 May), Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen said that his country would continue supporting EU enlargement when it takes on the presidency of the 25-nation bloc in July.
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"Finland will continue to support the enlargement of the EU when it takes over the rotating presidency from Austria in July", the Finnish leader said after meeting his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sanader.
"The EU must keep its commitments and Croatia will become a member as soon as it fulfills all the membership criteria," Mr Vanhanen told reporters.
Mr Sanader added that the EU perspective is key for the reform process in the Balkans, troubled with high rates of organised crime and corruption.
"All the countries in southeastern Europe must have a clear perspective of EU and NATO membership. That is the best motivation for keeping up the process of reforms and accepting the European standards," he said.
PM friendlier to Turkey
Just a day earlier, the Finnish prime minister paid a visit to Ankara and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
At the meeting, Mr Vanhanen promised "fruitful cooperation", but also pointed out the conditions that Turkey must meet in order to pass the EU threshold.
Mr Vanhanen and Mr Erdogan discussed the Cyprus question, over which Turkey and the EU have been deadlocked for the past two years.
Brussels has urged Ankara to ratify a customs agreement between Turkey and the expanded EU, which would open Turkish airports and harbours to the EU member, Cyprus.
Turkey has however not recognised the Republic of Cyprus, arguing that the EU must first lift its trade embargo on the Northern part of Cyprus.