MEPs slam Ankara’s slow reforms

The European Parliament is to condemn Turkey’s slow pace of reform and "persistent shortcomings" in a report to be discussed next week.

According to a draft of the text, Turkey needs to address its "insufficient progress" in meeting EU standards in more than a dozen areas.

The report, which has been the subject of intense discussion by MEPs this week, will be debated by the Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Monday (4 September).

The report heralds difficult months ahead for Ankara and its supporters, as the Commission also prepares to produce its regular report on Turkey’s progress. That report is expected in November.

Although the negative tone of the Parliament’s report was expected by Turkish government officials, initial reactions from Ankara have been fiercely critical of the report’s alleged imbalance.

Many suspect the tough language in the text is part of an effort to derail Turkey’s membership bid and capitalise on growing anti-EU sentiment in the country.

Since last year’s report there has been little progress in resolving Turkey’s biggest obstacle to membership talks; the opening of Ankara’s ports and airports to Cypriot flag-carriers. Turkey has said that it will not open its ports by the end of the year, as demanded by the EU unless the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus is ended. The effect of the disagreement has been felt in public opinion in Turkey, which has been highly critical of the EU’s perceived failure to end the international isolation of the northern part of the island.

Diplomats in both Brussels and Ankara say that the dispute over Cyprus has caused many in the Turkish government almost to give up on its drive for EU membership.

Dutch Green MEP Joost Lagendijk who heads the Parliament’s Turkey delegation, said that, despite the current difficulty, the EU must continue to press for Ankara to reform.

Lagendijk, who has been a stalwart supporter of Turkish membership in the Parliament, said: "Turkey’s record should be better, we cannot stop saying that they need to reform."

But, he said, a balanced approach was needed. "The problem for the EU is in finding the best way to get reforms done; only criticising is not the way," he added.

But with preparations already under way for next year’s elections in Turkey, further reforms are likely to prove difficult.

In Brussels the focus is now shifting towards reaching a compromise which would allow the EU to open trade ties with Northern Cyprus and for Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels.

The Commission is said to be working on a compromise, although details are unclear, with rumours circulating in the region including the possibility of placing Northern Turkish ports under UN control.

In the absence of a deal the Parliament is likely next week to urge Turkey to develop ties with Cyprus "as soon as possible", or face the process of EU integration stalling.

The European Parliament is to condemn Turkey’s slow pace of reform and "persistent shortcomings" in a report to be discussed next week.