Alternative status back on the agenda for Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Cansu Çamlibel
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 15, 2008 00:00
BRUSSELS - While Turkey prepares for a critical year in terms of its EU bid, Brussels discusses once again the old debate on alternatives to full membership. One option is to extend the Customs Union, says a senior EU official, adding that this should not be confused with privileged partnership.
The old debate over alternatives to full membership in the EU has gained ground with new proposals in Brussels ahead of Turkey’s critical rendezvous with the EU next year for a review of its commitments on Cyprus.
An intermediate solution could be found to add a political dimension to Turkey`s already existing economic partnership with the EU, instead of waiting 15 years for full membership, a senior European politician said.
"We can extend the Customs Union by adding a political union to that in the sense of foreign policy. We can call it the European economic and political area," said the Vice President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week in Brussels.
Swoboda said this formula has already been mentioned in the latest government program of his home country Austria, which has been a staunch opponent of Turkey’s membership. However, he claimed this proposal should not be confused with "privileged partnership."
Intermediary step
"People, who have been talking about privileged partnership, offered it as a final status to Turkey. But this new formula offers an intermediary solution to the current stalemate and keeps a future perspective of full membership. Once Turkey integrates in the political area, the progress so far could be consolidated. Then Turkey can still continue negotiations for full membership," Swoboda said.
Swoboda’s view reflects the general mood that close cooperation with Turkey in foreign policy is vital for the EU to act as a key international player. Thus an alternative to full membership for Turkey should not be limited to an economic partnership, but should also guarantee a new form of partnership including foreign policy. He said this new partnership could also be a model for other countries with EU prospects such as Ukraine.
Swoboda said an urgent debate on the state of play is urgently needed as negotiations with Turkey have already reached a dead-end with no chapters left to open due to a French veto and Ankara’s refusal to open ports to Greek Cyprus. "As long as Sarkozy is in power in France, no real progress can be achieved in Turkish accession. And it is not really feasible to negotiate for 15 years without knowing the direction. It is a disaster," he said. Therefore, Swoboda said the EU was inevitably moving toward the direction of reviewing Turkey’s status.
Swoboda said the groundwork for this formula should start simultaneously with negotiations for Croatia’s accession treaty, set to start in early 2009.
Diplomatic circles in Brussels have refrained from any radical projections on Turkey for 2009. Swoboda, however, unveiled the unspoken thoughts of a number of EU member states. If Greek Cypriots drag their feet on a solution to problems on the island until November 2009, then the EU Commission may come up with new sanctions against Turkey for not having fulfilled the obligations of the Ankara Protocol, namely opening ports and normalizing relations with Cyprus. Experts warn the verdict may well play into the hands of those who have been waiting for an excuse to start discussions on Turkey’s status.
Meanwhile, friends of Turkey in Europe fear that European parliamentary elections in June and German elections in October could contribute to sentiment against Turkish membership.
Legal guarantees promised to Ireland and paving the way for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in the country are to be written into a protocol, together with Croatia's accession treaty to the EU, in 2010 or 2011, EU leaders decided Friday. The decision announced by French President Nicholas Sarkozy represents a solid indication that the Balkan country, which started negotiations in 2005 together with Turkey, could become the bloc's 28th member by 2011 at the latest. Croatia’s accession is not only an unpleasant reminder that Turkey is lagging behind, but also a new member state in the council whose vote has to be won. Meanwhile, after going bankrupt in the financial crisis, Iceland has sent a strong signal to Brussels that it is considering joining the EU, the Daily News has learned.
An intermediate solution could be found to add a political dimension to Turkey`s already existing economic partnership with the EU, instead of waiting 15 years for full membership, a senior European politician said.
"We can extend the Customs Union by adding a political union to that in the sense of foreign policy. We can call it the European economic and political area," said the Vice President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week in Brussels.
Swoboda said this formula has already been mentioned in the latest government program of his home country Austria, which has been a staunch opponent of Turkey’s membership. However, he claimed this proposal should not be confused with "privileged partnership."
Intermediary step
"People, who have been talking about privileged partnership, offered it as a final status to Turkey. But this new formula offers an intermediary solution to the current stalemate and keeps a future perspective of full membership. Once Turkey integrates in the political area, the progress so far could be consolidated. Then Turkey can still continue negotiations for full membership," Swoboda said.
Swoboda’s view reflects the general mood that close cooperation with Turkey in foreign policy is vital for the EU to act as a key international player. Thus an alternative to full membership for Turkey should not be limited to an economic partnership, but should also guarantee a new form of partnership including foreign policy. He said this new partnership could also be a model for other countries with EU prospects such as Ukraine.
Swoboda said an urgent debate on the state of play is urgently needed as negotiations with Turkey have already reached a dead-end with no chapters left to open due to a French veto and Ankara’s refusal to open ports to Greek Cyprus. "As long as Sarkozy is in power in France, no real progress can be achieved in Turkish accession. And it is not really feasible to negotiate for 15 years without knowing the direction. It is a disaster," he said. Therefore, Swoboda said the EU was inevitably moving toward the direction of reviewing Turkey’s status.
Swoboda said the groundwork for this formula should start simultaneously with negotiations for Croatia’s accession treaty, set to start in early 2009.
Diplomatic circles in Brussels have refrained from any radical projections on Turkey for 2009. Swoboda, however, unveiled the unspoken thoughts of a number of EU member states. If Greek Cypriots drag their feet on a solution to problems on the island until November 2009, then the EU Commission may come up with new sanctions against Turkey for not having fulfilled the obligations of the Ankara Protocol, namely opening ports and normalizing relations with Cyprus. Experts warn the verdict may well play into the hands of those who have been waiting for an excuse to start discussions on Turkey’s status.
Meanwhile, friends of Turkey in Europe fear that European parliamentary elections in June and German elections in October could contribute to sentiment against Turkish membership.
Legal guarantees promised to Ireland and paving the way for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in the country are to be written into a protocol, together with Croatia's accession treaty to the EU, in 2010 or 2011, EU leaders decided Friday. The decision announced by French President Nicholas Sarkozy represents a solid indication that the Balkan country, which started negotiations in 2005 together with Turkey, could become the bloc's 28th member by 2011 at the latest. Croatia’s accession is not only an unpleasant reminder that Turkey is lagging behind, but also a new member state in the council whose vote has to be won. Meanwhile, after going bankrupt in the financial crisis, Iceland has sent a strong signal to Brussels that it is considering joining the EU, the Daily News has learned.