Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
84. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current status of the application by Turkey for full membership of the European Union; if he has had recent discussions with members of the Turkish Government or with other Members of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1641/14]
View answerTurkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999 and has been in accession negotiations since 2005. There are currently fourteen chapters open in the negotiations and one provisionally closed. During the Irish Presidency last year, we laid the groundwork for the opening of the latest chapter, Chapter 22 on regional policy, the first chapter to be opened in three years.
While I have not had discussions on the matter recently with members of the Turkish Government the matter was last discussed among EU Member States at the General Affairs Council on 17 December 2013, when Council Conclusions on Turkey were adopted, assessing progress to date and setting out the EU’s strategy for the period ahead. In those Conclusions, the Council reaffirmed the importance it attaches to EU relations with Turkey and stated that “t he EU should remain the anchor for reforms in Turkey”.
In terms of the future of the accession negotiations, the EU stated that “Turkey will be able to accelerate the pace of negotiations by advancing in the fulfillment of benchmarks, meeting the requirements of the Negotiating Framework and by respecting its contractual obligations towards the EU.”
The Council welcomed the important progress on reforms made in Turkey during 2013 and further encouraged work on reforms to provide “adequate checks and balances fully guaranteeing freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities” and called for further sustained efforts particularly as regards improving the observance of fundamental rights and freedoms in law and in practice in Turkey. The Council took note of the important regional role played by Turkey, especially with regard to Syrian refugees and reiterated EU support for the ongoing peace process launched with regard to the situation in the South East of Turkey. The Council welcomed the signing of the readmission agreement with the European Union in December, as well as the start of the dialogue between the EU and Turkey on visa liberalisation.
The EU called on Turkey to commit itself unequivocally to good neighbourly relations noting “with deep regret” that Turkey, despite repeated calls, has not yet fulfilled its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement towards all Member States.
Finally, the EU called on Turkey to “actively support the ongoing negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework.”
