TURKEY EU ACCESSION
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the Chairman
I am writing to report the outcome of the discussions
at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 11 December
regarding Turkey's EU accession process. This follows the Explanatory
Memorandum sent to you on 8 December on the Commission's recommendation
on Turkey, and is in advance of the European Standing Committee
debate on EU enlargement to be held on 15 January.
As you know, the EU agreed in September 2005
to "follow up" on Turkey's obligation to implement the
Additional Protocol to the Ankara Association Agreement (AAP).
The EU stated in that declaration that the opening of negotiations
on the relevant chapters depends on Turkey's implementation of
its contractual obligations to all Member States. The EU further
agreed that failure to implement Turkey's obligations in full
would affect the overall progress in the negotiations. By November
2006, Turkey had not implemented the AAP and the Commission therefore
set out the action it recommended through a Communication issued
on 29 November.
On the basis of this recommendation, the Council
agreed that the Member States within the Intergovernmental Conference
on Turkey's accession to the EU would not decide on opening eight
of the 35 chapters of the acquis, and that the remaining chapters
would not be closed, until the Commission had verified that Turkey
had fulfilled its commitments related to the AAP. The eight chapters
are:
— Chapter 1 (Free movement of Goods);
— Chapter 3 (Right of Establishment
and Freedom to Provide Services);
— Chapter 9 (Financial Services);
— Chapter 11 (Agriculture and Rural
Development);
— Chapter 13 (Fisheries);
— Chapter 14 (Transport Policy);
— Chapter 29 (Customs Union); and
— Chapter 30 (External Relations).
The Council agreed to follow up and review progress
by inviting the Commission to report developments in its regular
annual reports. Furthermore, the Council emphasised that the screening
process will continue and chapters for which technical preparations
have been completed will be opened. The full text of the Council
conclusions is attached (not printed).
The decision by EU Foreign Ministers, endorsed
by Heads of State and Government, reaffirms their commitment that
Turkey's accession negotiations should continue. In this context,
we are pleased that, on 20 December, Ambassadors agreed that Turkey
can be considered to be sufficiently prepared for negotiations
on the Enterprise and Industry chapter and invited Turkey to submit
its negotiating position.
I attach the Foreign Secretary's statement to
Parliament on 18 December (not printed), and look forward
to further discussion during the Standing Committee debate on
15 January.
9 January 2007
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