EU broadens Turkey entry talks but says Ankara has a long way to go

Dec 11 2007, 16:26
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union agreed Monday to expand membership talks with Turkey despite its failure to meet EU conditions and French reservations over the country ever being allowed to sign up.
In a long statement, EU foreign ministers detailed shortcomings ranging from slow progress in judicial and political reforms to a refusal to trade with EU member Cyprus.
Under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France is wary of letting an overwhelmingly Muslim nation of more than 70 million people into the EU. At France's insistence, the EU statement called the next negotiating session with Turkey on Dec. 18 an "intergovernmental" event, not "accession" talks.
Turkey's membership talks - now also to include issues of consumer protection and transport _ have been troubled from their outset in 2005.
They stalled a year later when the EU froze negotiations on eight of 35 issues because of Ankara's refusal to open its ports to trade with Cyprus, an EU member since 2004.
Negotiations on those eight points will not be opened until Turkey allows Greek Cypriot planes and vessels to use Turkish ports and airports.
By opening talks about consumer protection and transport, the EU only commits itself to talks, EU diplomats said. Entry talks with Turkey are likely to last a decade.
On Friday, the EU leaders are expected to name Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the former Latvian president, or Jorma Ollila, the former chairman of the Finnish cell phone giant Nokia, to head a panel that will debate the future direction, size and shape of the now 27-nation EU.
A French idea, it is to report back in 2009 but its original mandate has been curtailed with the crucial issue of Europe's borders - key to admitting Turkey, Balkan nations, Ukraine and other eastern nations - now off-limits.
On Nov. 6, the European Commission said Turkey must improve minority rights, enhance freedom of expression and religion and press ahead with other crucial reforms.
In its annual report on Turkey, it repeated that Ankara must normalize its relations with EU member Cyprus and honor a 2005 pact to open its ports and airports to the island republic.
The pace of reforms has slowed since Turkey's membership negotiations opened two years ago, and "significant further efforts are needed" in crucial areas, said the report. Human rights issues, the dispute over Cyprus and other problems hinder the bid.
The EU is divided about Turkey.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the EU must be "open to applicant countries" for there was "no rationale for backtracking on" commitments made to Ankara in the past. British Foreign Minister David Miliband added: "It's important that the European Union fulfill its responsibility toward Turkey."