John Bruton
Ceist:61 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen criteria for membership of the European Union; and if not, the respects in which it is deficient. [9558/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 31 March 2004
Ceisteanna (82, 83)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:101 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the remarks attributed to the European Commission Internal Market Commissioner that Turkey should act as a buffer to Iran, Iraq and Syria for the European Union, and should not be given membership of the EU for that reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10033/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 101 together.
The Helsinki European Council in December 1999 decided that Turkey is a candidate country destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to other candidate states. The Copenhagen European Council in December 2002 made the clear commitment that if the European Council meeting in December 2004 decides that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations without delay. These political criteria require a candidate country to have achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. The decision to be taken in December will be on the basis of a report and recommendation by the Commission. It will be the result of a transparent process, based on an objective assessment prepared in co-operation with Turkey throughout this year, under the terms of the revised accession partnership between the EU and Turkey.
The Government has welcomed the remarkable progress made by Turkey over the past two years in legislating for wide-ranging reforms. Further legislative reform is expected over the coming months. The EU continues to encourage Turkey to pursue the full and effective implementation of the reforms. The Government has maintained regular contact with the Turkish Government in relation to internal reforms and international developments. Representing the Irish Presidency, I led an EU Ministerial Troika which visited Ankara on 8 March for meetings with Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul. Discussions focused on the reform process, with a particular emphasis on the five areas highlighted for further action by the European Council in December 2003. These concern the independence and functioning of the judiciary, the exercise of fundamental freedoms, civil-military relations, cultural rights and the situation in south-east Turkey. The EU welcomed the progress made by Turkey to date in legislating for reform. I and my colleagues emphasised that a central element in the assessment to be made by the European Council in December will be the effective implementation of the legislative reforms at all levels of the administration and throughout the country. Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul confirmed that the primary goal of the Turkish Government was to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria by December 2004.
I have seen the media reports of negative remarks attributed to Commissioner Bolkestein earlier this month on the prospects for Turkey's accession to the EU. I have also noted subsequent reports that the Commissioner stated in the Dutch Parliament on 18 March that he foresaw the possibility of Turkish accession around 2016. In line with the commitments given by the European Council, the Government take the view that if the December European Council decides that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations without delay.