Accession negotiation chapters 23 and 24, on Fundamental Rights and Justice, are important chapters and should be the first to open and last one to close in Turkey’s membership talks, said S&D MEP Kati Piri on Wednesday, noting that she understands the reservations of the Republic of Cyprus on this matter.
The rapporteur of the 2015 progress report on Turkey, speaking ahead of the debate in the EP plenary, in Strasbourg, was asked to comment on a reference in the report, calling for the opening of these two chapters.
She said that fundamental values comprised the core of the accession process, and called the opening of other chapters, such as 33 on Financial & Budgetary Provisions, rather symbolic.
Piri also said that a Cyprus solution could have a positive effect on accession talks with Turkey. She further noted that settlement talks in Cyprus were very promising and could lead to the resolution of this decades-long conflict this year.
This was also part of the four messages the report would send, according to Piri. By voting in favour of the report on Thursday, the EP would be praising the considerable progress in Cyprus` reunification talks and hopes this will lead to a comprehensive and viable settlement before the end of year, she said.
Referring to the other three messages, the S&D MEP said that the EU cannot look away from the internal debate in Turkey, for the sake of migration. She said Iraqis and Afghans should benefit from the protection, in addition to Syrians.
On the Kurdish issue, Piri said the situation in the country’s south-east was unacceptable. Moreover, she noted that the overall pace of reforms in Turkey has slowed down considerably and in certain key areas, such as freedom of expression and the rule of law, there has been a regression.
Overall, Piri said that instead of moving closer, the distance between Turkey and the EU has increased.
Asked about a reference in the report to make Turkish an official EU language, Piri responded that it was the President of the Republic of Cyprus who has asked for it, adding that the move was carrying an important symbolism, that there is more and more trust after a decades-long conflict in Cyprus.
On another point regarding progress in the visa liberalization process, the Dutch MEP appeared pessimistic that the June deadline could be met.
She acknowledged that Turkey has made considerable progress over the past two years, but according to the latest Commission report, there were outstanding issues on necessary technical criteria before visa requirements for Turkish citizens could be lifted.
If you look at the progress of the past two years, and the legislation that has to go through in a short period, it is almost an impossible task, she added, noting that no political games were being played.
Asked finally on the inclusion in the report of a resolution the EP passed in 2005 on the centenary of the Armenian genocide, Piri responded that it was included not because it formed part of Turkey’s accession progress, but because the House cannot deny its own resolutions.
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus` northern part, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to meet its EU obligations, including normalising its relations with Nicosia.