The draft report of the European Parliament on the issue of the freezing of the accession negotiations of Turkey makes a "naughty retreat", while at the same time, regarding the Cyprus issue, it caresses the ears of Ankara, eliminating the firm indications for the return of the besieged city of Ammos. to its legal inhabitants and for the immediate start of the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus.
The two main references that have existed for a number of years in the European Parliament reports have literally "disappeared" from the draft report submitted by the rapporteur, Socialist MEP Katie Piri, which entails significant losses for Nicosia and leaves all Cypriots exposed. , which failed to pass their seats and secure a satisfactory draft report.
At the same time, the draft report "watered down" a previous resolution of the European Parliament that immediately called for the suspension of Turkey's accession negotiations. The notion of immediacy also "disappears", as the draft report calls for "the suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, if the constitutional package (adopted in the referendum) is implemented unchanged".
However, the implementation of the basic volume of this package -14 of the 18 amendments- will take place in 2019 and therefore any verbal suggestions of the European Parliament for "suspension" are devoid of substantive content, since they are referred to two years μονα The only suggestion for The immediate suspension of Turkey's accession negotiations is now limited to the issue of reinstating the death penalty, as outlined in the draft.
With regard to Cyprus issues, the draft report reiterates Turkey's obligation to actively contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem, but at the same time forgets other obligations of Turkey, such as the normalization of relations with the Republic of Cyprus. In particular, the Cypriot paragraph states:
• "Emphasizes that the settlement of the Cyprus problem would have positive effects throughout the region, while primarily and mainly it will be beneficial for the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. He commends the leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus who have made significant progress in the negotiations. It welcomes the exchange of maps, which has not taken place before, and the first international conference held with the guarantor powers. It supports the solution on the basis of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation with political equality, an international legal personality, a citizenship, with political equality between the two communities, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and with respect for the principles on which the EU is based. . Welcomes the enhanced commitment of the parties to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He expects Turkey to make an active contribution to the negotiations and reiterates that Turkey's contribution to an overall settlement remains crucial. It commends the important work of the Committee of Inquiry into the Missing Persons (CMP) and calls on Turkey to allow access to relevant premises and to assist the CMP by providing information from its military archives.
The draft report appears to "strongly criticize" Erdogan's statements about "Nazi practices" by EU leaders. However, suffice it to say that if the Turkish President continues in the same pattern, then he will undermine the credibility of his country as an EU political partner.
The first discussion of the report is expected next week in the Foreign Affairs Committee, followed by the submission of amendments and the adoption of the report on 20 June. The report is expected to be approved by the plenary next July.
The Protocol was "lost"
The fact that, according to the EU, Turkey's highest obligation to implement the Customs Union Protocol (opening of Turkish ports) to the Republic of Cyprus is also absent from the draft report of Kati Piri is also extremely impressive. At the same time, the rapporteur "supports the Commission's proposal to start negotiations for the upgrading of the Customs Union", although she continues not to apply it in its basic form vis-.-Vis Nicosia. The draft report also backs the liberalization of European passports for the 75 million Turkish citizens, saying it would strengthen contacts between citizens, while calling on Ankara to meet the remaining prerequisites.
"WE WILL NOT WAIT AT THE EU'S THRESHOLD"
Turkey will not wait forever on the doorstep of Europe and is ready to withdraw from EU membership talks if growing Islamophobia and hostility from some member states continue, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said interview given to Reuters. Speaking from the presidential palace less than two weeks after winning the referendum to strengthen his powers, a calm Erdogan said that the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to put his country under human rights surveillance is "completely political He added that Ankara does not recognize it. "In Europe, things have become very serious about the extent of Islamophobia. "The European Union is closing its doors to Turkey and Turkey is not closing its doors to anyone," he said. Europe. "If they do not act honestly, we will have to find a way to leave. Why wait any longer? "We have been talking for about 54 years," Erdogan said.
Source: Liberal