Fins voorzitterschap werkt aan oplossing voor Turkse deel Cyprus (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Finnish EU presidency is working on a compromise deal with Turkey on the Cyprus issue, designed to avert a major crisis in Ankara's accession talks - but Helsinki's stance clearly departs from the official European Commission line.

Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen told the Finnish parliament on Thursday (28 September) that Helsinki is engaged in diplomatic efforts to end the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, in return for Turkey fulfilling the EU's requirement to open its ports to Cypriot vessels.

The trade-off solution could fend off the scenario of a partial or full freeze of Turkey's ongoing EU membership talks, the Finnish leader said.

"The Finnish Presidency is actively working to reach a solution which would enable direct trade between the EU and Northern Cyprus," according to Mr Vanhanen.

"Our aim is a solution that would also ensure that Turkey proceeds with the opening of ports to Cypriot vessels," he said directly linking the two issues.

"A positive outcome would help us to avert difficulties with Turkey's EU accession negotiations ...We continue to hold intensive and constructive talks with the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey to see whether a solution can be found."

Against official commission line

The EU has so far denied any formal link to Turkey's obligation to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus - deriving from the so-called Ankara protocol on customs - and the situation of the Turkish-speaking North of the island.

As recently as this Wednesday (27 September), EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn stressed to members of the European Parliament "Let me once again reiterate that Turkey's obligations under the Ankara Protocol are not linked to the ending of economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community."

Privately however, commission officials also admit the two issues are "linked", knowing that a "train crash" in Turkey's accession talks can only be averted if Ankara is offered concessions.

The US has proposed that the UN supervises trade with northern Cyprus, which would pave the way for the Cypriot government in Nicosia to agree to direct EU trade with the north - something it has so far fiercely rejected as undermining its sovereignty over the whole island.

Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, is currently blocking a European Commission-proposed regulation which would open up EU trade with the Turkish Cypriot community in the north.

Pro-enlargement Finns

The Finnish EU presidency is known as a strong supporter of further expansion of the union despite the current enlargement fatigue felt by many member states.

Mr Vanhanen in his Thursday speech warned against setting new conditions for EU hopefuls such as Turkey and the Western Balkan states.

He particularly expressed his unease with the debate on "absorption capacity" - a term currently en vogue in EU politics which refers to the union's own readiness to welcome new members.

"The presidency strongly feels that this debate cannot and should not lead to further conditions being set for enlargement," Mr Vanhanen stated.

"We already have one reflection period, for the [EU] constitution. It would be a huge set-back for Europe to launch another one for enlargement."

"In practice this would mean shutting the door in Croatia's face, even though it is a deserving candidate," he said referring to the most well-advanced candidate member state knocking on the EU's door.

The remarks come just a few days after Croatia was told by commission president Barroso that it cannot enter the EU before the union has sorted out its own institutional problems.