| Author (Person) | Barber, Tony |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Financial Times |
| Series Details | 7.9.09 |
| Publication Date | 07/09/2009 |
| Content Type | News |
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The European Union must keep alive Turkey’s membership talks or risk damaging Turkish domestic reforms and harming the EU’s own interests, a panel of European experts has recommended in a report published in September 2009. The report by the Independent Commission on Turkey, which is chaired by Martti Ahtisaari, Finland’s 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner, criticises EU leaders for slowing down the accession talks and giving the impression they do not want Turkey to join the bloc. Turkey in Europe: Breaking the Vicious Circle, the second report of the Independent Commission on Turkey, analyzes the key developments in EU-Turkey relations and puts forward concrete steps necessary to revive negotiations. The Independent Commission on Turkey is convinced of the huge benefits of Turkish convergence with Europe and an eventual EU membership of a transformed Turkey, both for the country itself and the European Union. Despite a promising start to negotiations in 2004, the process has developed a vicious circle: continued negative comments by European political leaders, combined with growing public hesitation about further EU enlargement, have deepened resentment in Turkey and slowed the necessary reforms. The report argues that this vicious circle must urgently be broken, in the interest of both Turkey and the EU. European governments must honour their commitments and treat Turkey with fairness and the respect it deserves. On its side, Turkey has to re-engage in a dynamic, broad-based reform process, thus confirming that it is willing and serious in its ambition to join the EU. |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Turkey |
