Disagreement intensifies over Turkey deadline

Member states are in deep disagreement over attempts to set a fresh deadline for Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic, with member states picking apart European Commission recommendations on how to solve the crisis.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels on 14-15 December are expected to suspend some parts of Turkey’s EU membership talks, after Turkey refused to open its ports before the end of this year. But Turkey may now face a new deadline to meet the EU’s demands and with it the prospect that talks could be delayed further.

On Tuesday (5 December), German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would "campaign" for the EU, in 2008, to assess Turkey’s progress towards opening its ports, although she stopped short of calling for a clear deadline.

Cyprus, Greece and France are also pressing for member states to review the situation. Greece has called for a review in the first half of 2008, during the Slovenian presidency of the EU.

Although a series of Cypriot and Turkish elections that will take place in spring 2008 could open a window of opportunity to solve the problem, some member states are vehemently against imposing new deadlines.

Estonia, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK say the Commission’s recommendations, which include a bar on Turkey closing any negotiation chapters, are already too harsh and that introducing new deadlines would irreparably damage relations with Turkey and hurt the EU’s interests.

They are also calling for only three chapters to be frozen, rather than the eight suggested by the Commission.

After discussions between EU ambassadors in Brussels yesterday (6 December), there was little sign that the issue could be solved when foreign ministers meet on Monday (11 December), or before EU leaders meet later in the week.

Greek Cypriot diplomats have argued vociferously against the Commission’s recommendations, describing them as an unreasonable basis for negotiations. Cyprus opposes a Commission proposal that would give the EU executive the power to judge when Turkey has met its obligations.

Supported by Greece, Cyprus argues that member states alone must make the decision to unfreeze talks.

But according to Commission sources, President José Manuel Barroso is keen to ensure that the Commission, which conducts membership negotiations, should have a major say on when talks can restart. The Commission fears that if member states make this decision, the talks would be held hostage to Cypriot domestic politics.

Turkish Cypriots echoed this sentiment, voicing concerns about Greek Cypriot motives for clocking Turkey’s talks. "Don’t think for a second that it will stop here," said one senior Turkish Cypriot politician, "after the ports issue, the Greek Cypriots will find something else".

Cyprus has also opposed any reference to the United Nations’ role in resolving the Cyprus stalemate.

Member states are in deep disagreement over attempts to set a fresh deadline for Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic, with member states picking apart European Commission recommendations on how to solve the crisis.