By Elinor Blair - 15th December 2004
The European Parliament has given Turkey a green light to begin EU membership negotiations.
Ankara’s ‘progress towards accession’ was recognised in a full vote by MEPs, with strong backing for EU membership negotiations at 407 votes to 262.
In a highly controversial decision the parliament took the decision by secret ballot rather than an open vote.
The move divided MEPs, angering deputies, who retaliated by showing voting papers to observers.
Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings, pilot of parliament’s motion backing Turkey, ignored the row over voting procedure.
Turkey needs a “fair chance” to join the EU and Eurlings insisted that heated debate in the parliament surrounding the proposal was a positive thing.
“There is a lot still to be done”, he said noting continued Turkish human rights abuses.
“If we want to turn public opinion [in favour of Turkish accession] it is essential people see true change in the country,” he said.
While the vote by MEPs is non-binding, the parliament’s president Josep Borrell will present the result to EU leaders meeting in Brussels later this week.
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