Europees Parlement acht Turkije nog niet klaar voor toetreding (en)
Auteur: Andrew Beatty
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee today said that Turkey has not yet met the political criteria to join the European Union.
Parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly in favour of declaring Turkey unfit to start membership negotiations, citing a raft of areas where Ankara has not implemented the necessary reforms - from curbing the influence of the army to increasing Kurdish rights.
Although members praised the work of Turkey's ruling AK (Justice and Development) Party for their work in trying to meet the membership criteria, they said that such reforms could only be judged on the basis of how they are implemented.
A similar assessment is currently being prepared by the European Commission for release in October, but their assessment will go a long way to deciding if Turkey starts accession negotiations soon after.
In December 2002, at a summit in Copenhagen, EU leaders agreed to make a decision on talks on the basis of the Commission's assessment.
"In my view it is not possible for them to be ready" MEP Arie Oostlander, who drew up the report, told the EUobserver.
But with internal pressures from the Army and within the administration weighing on the reform-minded AK party, many are keen not to isolate the government.
"We should not say no to Turkey, if they are not ready" said Mr Oostlander.
The Dutch MEP advocates a start to negotiations after the Commission's assessment but with the political criteria being the first chapter in the talks.
The Committee's opinion is not binding but is a significant gauge of opinion in the Parliament as a whole, where many in the biggest party, the conservative-EPP are reluctant to embrace Turkey as a member.
A spokesperson for the Turkish government declined to comment.
The Parliament as a whole will discuss the matter later this month at their plenary in Strasbourg.
Under current rules the Parliament must give its assent to the final terms of accession before enlargement can take place.