By Martin Banks - 6th November 2007
MEPs have urged Ankara to “seize the opportunity” to improve the country's chances of joining the EU by restoring its internal reform process.
The call comes in the wake of the release by the commission on Tuesday of a partly critical report on progress in Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Some Socialist demands, including repeal of a controversial law on insulting Turkishness, which has led to legal action against authors, are included in the commission’s report.
Dutch MEP, Jan Marinus Wiersma, the Socialist’s joint spokesman on a parliamentary report on Turkey, said, "We share the commission’s disappointment at the slowdown in reform in Turkey.
“This was understandable, up to a point, in the past election year. But now that prime minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan has a strong mandate, he should seize this opportunity to restore the reform process.
"Article 301, the law on insulting Turkishness, should be abolished as soon as possible."
He said the conflict with the PKK in the south east of the country and in the Iraqi border area should not be a reason to slow the reform process.
"This problem cannot be invoked as an alibi for failing to find a peaceful solution within Turkey for the Kurdish question," he said.
"In the past, Erdogan has described the Kurdish issue as a political, economic and social question. He should continue on that track and not turn it into a purely military or political issue.”
Another Socialist MEP, Hannes Swoboda, said his group will continue to fight for full implementation of the EU promise for financial aid and direct trade for Northern Cyprus.
“But Turkey has to fulfil its promises and should be ready in the event of a solution to withdraw its troops from Northern Cyprus,” he said.
Dutch centre-right MEP, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey said Ankara had made progress in many areas.
“But at the same time,” she added,”it is clear that the reform process has slowed down in the last years.
“For example, no progress was made with the problems faced by religious minorities and there has been no progress towards normalisation of bilateral relations with Cyprus.
“Turkey has overcome the political and constitutional crisis after the July-elections."
She said the government should use its strong mandate to make the necessary reforms.
"This parliament expects the new Turkish government to accelerate the process of reforms in order to remain a credible partner in the negotiation process."
"Reform of the Turkish constitution is crucial. I hope the reforms will be the subject of a wide public debate and that an overall consensus in parliament will be reached.
“A new constitution is vital to secure a democratic state. At the same time, this debate should not prevent making progress on issues which should be tackled right now, that is, repeal of Article 301.”
Reaction to the reports presented by enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn also came from Joost Lagendijk, a Dutch Green MEP and chairman of the Turkey-EU delegation.
"This report reflects the broad feeling in Europe that badly-needed reforms in Turkey must not be put on the long finger.
“The commission notes that little has been done on vital issues such as freedom of opinion and expression over the last year.
There has been even less progress as regards civil control over the army, with the army interfering in the political crisis earlier this year. There are no excuses to justify further delay.
"The commission also underlines that Turkish membership is of key strategic importance for the EU, forming a unique connection between the west and the Muslim world.
“For this reason the EU must keep its promise and not make it more difficult for Turkey. At the same time, the Turkish government cannot let itself be taken hostage by the PKK and the recent terrorist attacks; it must continue the reform process."
UK Europe minister Jim Murphy welcomed what he called the commission's "fair and objective" reports.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.