BY ISMET BERKAN
RADIKAL- The European Union Commission yesterday released a draft framework for the EU’s accession negotiations with Turkey. The text includes nothing new or surprising, in other words, everything is as we expected.
In it, the EU Commission spells out the details of several main principles which were previously summarized in just a few paragraphs. By analyzing the draft text, let’s try to see how Turkish-EU negotiations are likely to progress:
There are 35 phases. The commission will determine several benchmarking criteria for each phase. If Turkey is found to have met these criteria at the end of the scanning process, the European Council will decide to initiate a phase.
The commission will lay out the criteria to be used to close the phases temporarily, and similarly, it will be the council which will close a phase, if required.
In other words, Greek Cypriots and the countries trying to slow down Turkey’s accession bid will have many opportunities to veto us. This is exactly what we mean when we call our membership talks ‘a long road.’
The draft framework also provides Ankara with an opportunity to select between various opportunities. Were Ankara to abandon its full membership aspirations, then certain mechanisms would go into force to sustain Turkey’s connection to the bloc in some other way. Such options can of course be discussed if Turkey fails to fulfill the required criteria.
However, let me ask you something: Would Brussels offer Ankara a privileged partnership if we fail to fulfill the required criteria? I don’t think so. Europe would probably not want a failed Turkey.
Anti-EU circles should give up their unfounded hopes, because our democratization and human rights path is irreversible. Since we have often reiterated that we would never accept any other formula besides full membership, Brussels’ hands are tied. All EU countries can do is to delay and deter us. But would it be wise to delay Turkey’s membership talks? The longer our negotiations, the more opportunities we will have to improve ourselves.
Under the current circumstances, it’s Turkey which needs time, not Europe. Turks of course want to join a union where they will be treated equally and not be seen as an outcast.