Europees Parlement spreekt zich uit over Turkije (en)

EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - The European Parliament should not stay silent on the Turkey issue but should deliver its opinion before the end of the year so as to engage in the process, said Parliament's new President Josep Borrell yesterday (14 September) in Strasbourg.

In formal terms the parliament has no role to play on whether to start negotiations with Turkey. But it would be "inconceivable to remain silent", stressed Mr Borrell while setting out his priorities for the next two and a half years to the House.

The main thing at stake is "our relations with the Islamic world", whatever the decision on Turkey, added Mr Borrell.

Promises made over 40 years ago must be reliable. The prospect of EU membership has led to more reform in the last few years in Turkey than had been achieved in 40 years of discussion, said Martin Schulz, speaking on behalf of the Socialist Group.

Mr Borrell will deliver parliament's opinion to EU leaders in December.

Before this, on 23 September, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks with the leaders of the Parliamentary groups.

The Commission will then publish its opinion on Turkey's readiness to join the EU on 6 October.

EP to show its strength

One of the other main priorities for Mr Borrell will be to participate in the ratification of the European Constitution. The president called for pan-European debate to avoid every country just "minding its own business".

We will have to explain to people "what the Constitution says and does not say", Mr Borrell stressed in his speech.

The new European Parliament president also drew attention to the importance of the hearings of the new commissioners. Some people take it for granted and think that it is only a formal procedure, we will have to show them that this is not the case, he said.

Amongst other issues, Mr Borrell pointed to the "lack of interpretation" in the EU. Despite the amount of money spent on the issue, there are still not enough translators and interpreters, he complained.

At the moment there are only two teams who can interpret all 20 official languages simultaneously.

The biggest problems are with the Maltese language.