Bespreking met Turkije over toetreding op lager pitje (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has recommended sanctioning Turkey for its stance on the Cyprus issue by suspending parts of Ankara's EU accession talks, in a move sparking immediate political debate among EU member states.

Under strong time pressure from national governments, Brussels a week earlier than planned on Wednesday (28 November) released its advice to member states on how to handle the Turkey talks now that Ankara is on course to miss an EU deadline to lift a blockade on trade with Cyprus before the end of the year.

After the failure of Finnish EU presidency efforts to forge a deal between Turkey and Cyprus this week, the commission has now proposed suspending the opening of eight chapters of Turkey's 35-chapter strong EU negotiations book - until Ankara allows trade from Cyprus.

The eight chapters to be suspended all relate directly to specific customs and trade problems, while for the remaining majority of chapters, Brussels has recommended that they can be opened, but not closed before Turkey move on the Cyprus issue.

EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn appeared before journalists an hour later than scheduled after what he said was a "serious and earnest debate" in the college of commissioners on the thorny issue.

"The EU is a community of law. Failure to meet legal obligations cannot remain without consequences," he said referring to the EU-Turkey customs agreement which obliges Ankara to allow trade from all EU states including Cyprus.

"At the same time, it is in the key interest of Turkey and the EU to keep the accession process alive," the commissioner said.

"There is no train crash, no freeze, no hibernation, but yes, a slowing down [of the Turkey talks] because of further works on the rails," he stated.

'Disappointingly tough'

With its recommendation to freeze parts of Turkey's accession talks while keeping the process as a whole on track, Brussels has carefully manoeuvred itself between member states who are planning to decide on the issue at a foreign ministers meeting on 11 December.

On one end of member states' spectrum is a camp of capitals strongly supportive of Ankara's EU bid, led by the UK.

A UK government spokeswoman told EUobserver that "in our view, the commission recommendation is disappointingly tough," stressing the strategic importance of EU-Turkey ties in a comment which was echoed by Swedish diplomats.

France, on the other hand, appears to be backing the commission line with a French diplomat indicating Mr Rehn's package is along the line of Paris' "principles" of "clarity, credibility and reversibility" in the Turkey talks.

Austria, meanwhile, looks likely to spearhead the tough camp on Turkey, with its foreign minister Ursula Plassnik earlier this month suggesting a "breathing pause" in the entire negotiations and with Austrian commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner reportedly pushing a stronger line in the commission meeting on Wednesday.

Cypriot veto

Cyprus is set to press for the suspension of more than just eight customs-related negotiating chapters, while sticking to its right to veto the opening of any of the remaining chapters.

Nicosia is currently blocking the opening of any chapter, effectively bringing the entire negotiations to a halt.

But Mr Rehn on Wednesday called on member states to open "without delay" and "without undue interference" at least four chapters which are technically ready to be kicked off - on economic and monetary issues, industry, financial control and education and culture.

Commission officials said they hoped for explicit language in conclusions of EU leaders meeting on 14-15 December saying "now open these chapters" - which would mean Cyprus lifting its veto.

Dutch Green member of the European Parliament Joost Lagendijk remarked that this would actually mean "progress" for Ankara compared to the current situation where Nicosia blocks every single step in the process.

But Cyprus is unlikely to commit itself to refraining to use its political veto on Turkey, with one Cypriot contact saying "I don't think that we can tie a member state to the opening of any chapters under conditions it cannot accept."

The opening and closing of all 35 negotiating chapters is subject to a unanimous decision by all 25 EU member states.