One week ahead of the anticipated 6 December 2006 decision, the Commission gave its recommendation to suspend talks eight of the 35 negotiation chapters.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn underlined that this was no “train crash, no freeze and no hibernation”, but meant the slowing down of talks while “the train continues to move.” He also emphasised the strategic importance of the relationship between the two, stating: “the EU needs Turkey and Turkey needs the EU.”
Talks will be effectively frozen on issues related to trade, namely on free movement of goods, services and financial services, agriculture, fisheries, transport, customs union and external relations. So far only the chapter on science and research has been successfully opened and closed.
Nevertheless, Rehn pointed out that four chapters, which could be opened “any day” were economic and monetary policy, enterprise and industrial policies, financial control, as well as education and cultural policy.
The Commission also recommended that no chapters would be “provisionally closed” until Turkey fulfils its obligations towards the EU. Meanwhile, the recommendations allow for the screening process to continue.
Rehn said the intention of issuing the recommendations one week earlier, was to allow member states more time to “find unity” on the matter until the Council meeting 11 December 2006, and thus avoid having to come back to the issue at another summit on 14-15 December 2006. Member states are still divided on how to proceed in talks with Turkey. Consultations between Turkey and the member states are currently taking place at a NATO meeting in Riga.
