Europarlement verwerpt "light-versie" EU-lidmaatschap voor Turkije (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs in the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament have rejected the 'partnership' option for Turkey.

During a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (30 November), MEPS rejected the idea of giving Turkey a "privileged partnership" instead of full membership if the country fails to brings itself into line with EU democracy criteria.

Elsewhere in the report, the euro-deputies supported the European Commission's line on Turkey by calling for EU governments "to open the negotiations with Turkey without undue delay".

As with the Commission, they say that Ankara's membership of the 25-nation bloc is not automatic.

"The opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a long-lasting process that by its very nature is an open-ended process and does not lead 'a priori' and automatically to accession", says the report which was adopted by 50 votes to 18.

The Foreign Affairs Committee also followed the line of a document circulated recently by the Dutch EU Presidency which lays down some condition for opening negotiations with Ankara - particularly concerning the divided island of Cyprus.

"The opening of negotiations naturally presumes the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey", says the report.

Debate heats up

As the date for member states' decision on Turkey get closer (17 December), the debate in member states is heating up.

The idea of a privileged partnership has been gaining currency in some quarters.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel on Tuesday said the EU must make clear to Turkey that any negotiations may result in an arrangement other than full membership.

The idea is strongly pushed by the German Christian Democrat opposition and several influential politicians in France, such as the newly elected head of the centre-right UMP, Nicolas Sarkozy.

French President Jacques Chirac also recently said that perhaps there should be a "third way" for Turkey.

Reacting to both the Dutch paper and the Austrian leader's comment, a European Commission spokesperson said "We are confident that we will find a balanced solution".

The MEPs' report will be voted on by the entire European Parliament on 15 December and will be forwarded to the EU summit two days later.