Ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken bevriezen deels de toetredingsonderhandelingen met Turkije (en)

The EU foreign ministers agreed on a partial freeze of Turkey's membership talks in their meeting in Brussels on Monday, 11 December, after Turkey's failure to normalise trade with Cyprus. The ministers said they would suspend eight of the 35 chapters on the agenda of the accession negotiations.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of the EU Presidency saw the outcome as an encouragement to Turkey. "Nobody questioned the possibility of Turkey joining the EU after it fullfills all the criteria", he said at a press conference.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU foreign ministers found consensus on three documents concerning the enlargement. They adopted the Council Conclusions which entail the continuance of negotiations with Turkey and agreed on a presidency statement on the EU's support for the UN efforts to find a solution in the Cyprus issue. The ministers also found political agreement on the framework of economic development in the northern part of Cyprus.

"All in all, there will be no Turkey summit on Thursday and Friday", said Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja pleased with the compromise he described as "genuine" when referring to the upcoming summit of the EU leaders at the end of the week. Tuomioja believed the foreign ministers' meeting was concluded with all participants satisfied with the conclusions.

Aid for Palestinians continues

Over lunch the ministers discussed the Middle East peace process ahead of the European Council meeting on 14-15 December, briefed by the EU's High Representative Javier Solana who visited the region recently.

The ministers agreed to extend the Temporary International Mechanism, due to expire at the end of the month, for another period of three months. The mechanism has channelled more than 200 million euros to Palestinians since June. According to EU officials it has provided access to water, health services and sanitation to 1.3 million Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas-led government.

The Council also adopted conclusions on EU-China strategic partnership, Western Balkans and Afghanistan.