We shall discuss the motion on Turkey's application for membership of the EU, which was submitted by Deputy Haughey and circulated last week.
EU Membership: Motion.
I move:
That the case for and against Turkish membership of the EU be clearly put to the joint committee and that the EU Commissioner report on this matter be made available to the members.
I am sure the committee will be able to agree on this, thereby allowing us to proceed to the next item.
On 6 October 2004 the European Commission published three reports: the annual regular reports on progress towards accession of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey; the strategy paper on progress in the enlargement progress, which includes recommendations on Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey; and, as part of the regular report on Turkey, a paper that examines the issues raised by that country's possible membership of the EU. The next day, the Minister addressed this committee as follows:
I welcome the very important report and recommendation on Turkey presented by the Commission yesterday. Successive European Councils, including the meeting in June under Ireland's Presidency, have given a commitment that if this December's European Council decides on the basis of the Commission report and recommendation that Turkey fulfils the political criteria for membership, the European Union will open accession negotiations without delay. We have strongly encouraged the Government of Turkey to maintain the impressive performance of recent years in legislating for reform and to ensure the full implementation of these reforms.
The Commission report and recommendation, and its initial impact study of the consequences of Turkish accession, are very comprehensive. They deserve close study as we prepare for the important decision to be taken by the European Council in December. The Commission concluded that in view of the overall progress of reforms, and provided that Turkey brings into force certain key outstanding legislation, it considered Turkey sufficiently fulfilled the political criteria and recommended that accession negotiations be opened. It elaborated on a detailed strategy for the pursuit of negotiations and made it clear that it would be part of an open-ended process the outcome of which could not be guaranteed beforehand. The Government will study the Commission's report fully. I am sure the Government of Turkey will do likewise and will redouble its efforts in the weeks and months ahead to ensure the conditions are in place for a positive decision by the European Council in December, leading to the opening of accession negotiations.
The European Commission has therefore concluded that Turkey has sufficiently fulfilled the political criteria for candidate countries and recommends that, provided certain key legislative reforms are implemented in time, accession negotiations should be opened. The European Council will have to decide in December if the political criteria have been fulfilled and whether to open negotiations. A date for the opening of negotiations will then have to be agreed.
I strongly believe that the Oireachtas, through this joint committee, should have a role to play in this process. This committee, which is made up of democratically elected representatives, should examine this issue comprehensively and independently and give its considered advice to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in advance of the European Council meeting in December. The role of this committee is evolving. We have undertaken pioneering work on the scrutiny of EU legislation and on the preparations of the Minister for Foreign Affairs for meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
Last week, we passed a motion concerning the Middle East against the advice of the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy. That was a significant development. An independent examination by the Oireachtas of the Turkish application will further enhance the role of this joint committee.
Many Irish people are unaware and uninformed of the major EU issues of the day. We are all conscious of the so-called democratic deficit. I suggest that Irish citizens would be very interested in this particular question and it is up to this committee to commence an informed debate today. The visit by the Joint Committee on European Affairs to Turkey from 16 to 20 November will also play an important part in our deliberations. I understand that Mr. Andy O'Rourke from the Institute of European Affairs will begin our discussions today and present the case for and against Turkish accession.
Some of the concerns expressed to me since I first drew attention to this particular question relate to Cyprus. Turkey refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, which is an EU member state. The Commission expects that Turkey will soon sign the adaptation protocol to the Ankara agreement for extending the terms of the Customs Union to take account of the accession of the ten new member states. This will have to be monitored carefully.
The Commission report also states that Turkey should abolish restrictive measures against vessels of Cypriot interest or other Community vessels that approach its ports. The prohibition on Cyprus-registered aircraft from using internationally approved air corridors over Turkey should be lifted. Turkey will have to cease to veto Cyprus's accession to a number of regional and international organisations. There will be a need for freedom of expression in Turkey, especially concerning Turkey's policies in Cyprus. It should also be remembered that Turkey maintains an occupying military force in Cyprus, which is an EU member state.
These are not insignificant issues and there are many others to be considered. Other concerns are more practical, including the estimated €28 million price tag, the threat of mass emigration to the west, and the question of adapting the EU institutions to accommodate the sheer size of Turkey. Human rights questions have also to be considered, as does the culture of Turkey, which is a predominantly Muslim country. If Turkey joins the EU, the Muslim population of the EU will increase from 3% to 16%. We need to ask whether Muslims can integrate and conform and whether the moderates can prevail over the increasing number of fundamentalists. One must also consider whether Turkey is a European country at all.
I hope this committee can address these issues both at this meeting and the next meeting set aside to consider this matter and also during its visit to Turkey. I am sure the motion is agreed. It merely calls for a debate and I am sure it will facilitate an informed discussion.
Question put and agreed to.