Turkey: EU, one step forward, one step back

(ANSAmed) – ANKARA – Turkey and the EU, one step forward and one step back in a single day, confirming that Turkey’s accession has reached a deadlock but that there are forces that drive the process forward: today’s newspapers in Turkey report the veto issued by Cyprus against the participation of Turkey in a EU meeting of Ministers on Syria, but also write about a support demonstration organised in 11 countries (including Germany). But these events take place in the context of a European financial and political crisis that have made Europe the ‘sick man’, a century after that role was reserved for Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, newspaper Hurriyet underlines, has criticised the fact that Cyprus has blocked his participation in yesterday’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on the crisis in Syria. Davutoglu has pointed out that Germany, the UK and France wanted Turkey to join the meeting, but ”they have given in to the whims of a small country,” ”the Greek part of Cyprus.” The veto of the southern and European part of the island, which is divided in two due to the Turkish invasion against the Greek regime of colonels in 1974, is one of the main obstacles to Turkey’s EU candidacy. Turkey’s accession has been in a stalemate since the start of negotiations in 2005, also due to opposition by the French and hesitation by the Germans. Italy, together with at least eight other countries, supports the accession of Turkey to the EU, also to be able to make better use of the country’s role as mediator in the Middle East as Muslim country and NATO member.

Despite Germany’s caution, Guido Westerwelle is one of the 11 EU Foreign Ministers who have signed an article published by the portal EUobserver and mentioned today by the Turkish newspaper Milliyet. The text that was released on the eve of the European summit is summarised by the newspaper as strong support to Turkey’s accession, whose ”influence” could strengthen ”the EU’s global scope” at a time of ”global uncertainty”, the Ministers wrote. Unexpectedly, the FMs of Hungary, Slovenia and Latvia have also signed the article, while these countries are not among the nine strongest supporters of Turkey (a ‘club’ that also includes Poland and Spain). ”The sick continent’s love for Turkey” is the headline of Milliyet based on a historic reference: the Ottoman empire was known in its final stage as ”the sick man of Europe”, and the expression is now also useful to describe the current economic problems (recession in east, low GDP per capita) and other issues (lack of democracy) that make it difficult for Turkey to join the EU. At least now the ”sick man” is the EU: Turkish European Affairs Minister and chief negotiator for EU accession Egemen Bagis said yesterday in Prague that Turkey can resolve Europe’s problems. And today, in an article published by Europolitics and quoted by Turkish news agency Anadolu, he underlined the concept that the ”technocrat governments” in Greece and Italy show that ”the financial crisis in Europe is becoming ”political” through these ”economic coups” that create a ”democratic deficit”. (ANSAmed).

via Turkey: EU, one step forward, one step back – Analysis – ANSAMed.it.