22 EU enlargement: Croatia and Turkey
| (a)
(28019)
14971/06
SEC(06) 1385
(b)
(28020)
14970/06
SEC(06) 1390
|
Croatia 2006 Progress Report
Turkey 2006 Progress Report
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 8 November 2006
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 16 November 2006
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 30 November 2006
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council | 11-12 December 2006 General Affairs and External Relations Council
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared. Relevant to the debate on EU enlargement to be held in the European Standing Committee on 15 January 2007
|
Background
22.1 On 8 November 2006, the European Commission published its
annual Progress Reports on Croatia and Turkey. These assess progress
made since the opening of accession negotiations in October 2005.
Progress Report on Croatia
22.2 The first phase of the accession process — screening,
where the Commission compares Croatia's legislation with the EU
acquis (the body of EU law) — was completed in October
2006. Negotiations have been provisionally closed on one chapter,
and opening benchmarks set for a further thirteen. There were
three key areas covered in the report, which are helpfully summarised
by the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Mr Geoffrey Hoon) in his 30 November 2006 Explanatory Memorandum
as follows:
"Political Criteria: Democracy and the rule of
law. The report highlights the need for improvements in judiciary,
public administration and the fight against corruption. On public
administration reform, the report criticises Croatia's failure
to adopt an overall strategic framework to address this issue.
On judicial reform, implementation of a strategy has begun
but is at an early stage. The case backlog has been reduced but
remains large at over one million. Overall, the judicial system
continues to suffer from 'severe shortcomings'. On anti corruption,
the report notes the progress that has been made in establishing
the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime
(USKOK) and in pursuing a number of corruption cases. However,
corruption 'remains a serious problem' and political will and
full implementation of the anti-corruption strategy are required.
"Human Rights and the Protection of Minorities. Progress
continues to be made, but at a slow pace. An appropriate legal
framework is in place, but actual implementation needs to be accelerated.
The report welcomes the new penal code, action on Roma under the
government's "Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015", and
high-level commitment to integrating minorities. However, more
efforts are needed to properly investigate and prosecute ethnically
motivated crimes. The report calls for improved implementation
of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities (CNLM), especially
on employment of minorities. It also asks for a comprehensive
strategy and action plan on all forms of discrimination.
"Regional Issues and International Obligations. The
report confirms full co-operation with the UN International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Prosecution of war
crimes has continued to improve, but anti-Serb bias persists and
the problem of witness protection has become more acute. The report
states that progress on refugee return has slowed down, with implementation
of housing care programmes for occupancy/tenancy rights holders
being particularly weak. No progress has been made on convalidation
(recognition of pension rights from work in "Republika Srpska
Krajina") and further efforts are required to create the
social and economic conditions necessary for sustainable return.
Continued progress in regional co-operation is noted, as are a
number of outstanding bilateral issues with neighbours.
"Economic Criteria: The report praises Croatia's low
inflation, exchange rate stability and a slight acceleration of
growth. Private investment has risen and unemployment has declined.
Croatia remains a functioning market economy. As expected, it
criticises imbalances in the trade and current accounts as well
as high external debt. It also emphasises the slow pace of structural
reforms — especially privatisation and enterprise restructuring
e.g. in the shipbuilding industry.
"Acquis: The report notes 'some' or 'good' progress
in all chapters. There is a need for Croatia to continue to align
its laws with the EU acquis and to improve administrative
capacity in many areas. Areas for further work include: money
laundering, real estate, steel and shipbuilding restructuring,
Common Agricultural Policy structures, food safety, judicial reform,
corruption, organised crime, and the environment amongst others".
PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY
22.3 Screening of Turkey's legislation with the EU acquis
was also completed in October 2006. Negotiations have been provisionally
opened and closed on one chapter and opening benchmarks set for
two. The four key areas covered in the report are likewise helpfully
summarised as follows:
"Political Criteria: The Report states that "Turkey
continues to sufficiently fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria
and has continued political reforms" but notes that "the
pace has slowed during the past year." The Commission acknowledges
the efforts made by Turkey to adopt its 9th reform
package, which is now almost complete, and notes progress in the
ratification of international human rights instruments, the fight
against corruption, judicial reform and alignment of civil-military
relations with EU practices. Notwithstanding the trend towards
open debate in Turkey, the Commission calls for significant further
efforts on freedom of expression. It also states the need for
improvements on the rights of non-Muslim religious communities,
women's rights, trade union rights and on civilian control of
the military.
"Cyprus: The Commission reports that Turkey has not
fully implemented the Ankara Agreement Protocol (which extends
the Customs Union between the EU and Turkey to include the new
Member States that joined the EU in 2004) and that no progress
has been made towards normalisation of relations with the Republic
of Cyprus. The Turkish Government said they will not implement
the AAP until the EU ends the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
However, the Report notes that implementing the Protocol is a
legal obligation, which must not be linked to the situation of
the Turkish Cypriot community. The Report says if Turkey has not
fulfilled its obligations, the Commission will make the relevant
recommendations ahead of the December European Council.
"Economic Criteria: The report states that Turkey
can be regarded as "a functioning market economy, as long
as it firmly maintains its recent stabilisation and reform achievements".
The report praises reductions in budget deficits and government
debt levels but notes that Turkey's financing needs are vulnerable
and the economy is still fragile. It also points to the need to
address very low (and falling) employment rates. Further reforms
are needed, including strengthening fiscal consolidation backed
by structural measures.
"Acquis: The report notes progress in most areas,
though only 'limited' progress has been made in a few areas including
social policy, agriculture and public procurement. There is a
strong focus on the need for Turkey to fulfil the short-term priorities
under the Accession Partnership".
The Government's view
22.4 The Minister says that the Government continues to support
the goal of accession for Croatia and Turkey to the EU, subject
to their meeting the conditions of membership. He continues as
follows:
"The Croatia report holds few surprises, and we agree with
the Commission's assessment that Croatia continues to meet the
political criteria and has made 'some' or 'good' progress against
every chapter.
"The pace of reform in Turkey has slowed and it is important
that Turkey reverses this trend. We agree with the Report's conclusions.
However, in recent years, Turkey's membership perspective has
helped deliver significant progress in Turkey, including abolishing
the death penalty, significantly reducing torture, ensuring constitutional
rights for women and improving the cultural rights of minority
groups. We continue to urge the Turkish Government to address
areas of concern such as freedom of expression. On Turkey's contractual
obligations, we continue to remind the Turkish Government of the
need to implement the Ankara Agreement Protocol. If they do not,
the EU will be required to act in accordance with its September
2005 Declaration".
22.5 More immediately, the Minister says that EU Foreign Ministers
will "note" the documents at the General Affairs and
External Relations Council on 11 December.
Conclusions
22.6 Given the difficulties and differences of view, Turkey's
progress will no doubt also be discussed after the GAERC at the
European Council.
22.7 The House will also have an opportunity when the European
Standing Committee debates EU enlargement on 15 January 2007,
on the basis of earlier Country Monitoring Reports on Bulgaria
and Romania. As with the Commission's Communication on Enlargement
Strategy, which we considered at our previous meeting,[43]
we consider these further documents relevant to that debate.
43 (28018) 14968/06 (28022) 15122/06; See HC 41-ii
(2006-07), para 16 (29 November 2006). Back
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