Turkey’s refusals to recognise EU country Cyprus and to comply with obligations towards EU member state Cyprus under the EU custom union risk derailing the accession process, only shortly after the launch of detailed entry talks on 12 June.
The hardening of fronts became apparent when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would rather accept a standstill of negotiations than to make concessions to Cyprus: "So long as the Turkish Cypriots remain isolated, we will not open our ports and airports. If the (EU) negotiations halt, then let them halt".
Some EU leaders replied in the same tough tone. French President Jacques Chirac said: “It is evident that if Turkey does not fulfil these conditions, it puts at risk its capacity to continue the enlargement process”. EU Council President and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel said: “Another option apart from full membership should be considered for Turkey."
The uncompromising stance of Erdogan, whose party is facing elections in the coming 18 months, must be seen in the light of mounting nationalist pressure from Islamists in his own country. Turks feel that the EU should not have admitted Cyprus into its ranks without a peace settlement in place.
EU enlargement commissioner Rehn is set to appear in front of the EP foreign affairs committee on 20 June 2006 to talk about the Turkish entry bid. In October or November 2006 the Commission is due to publish its progress report on Turkey, with Cyprus as one major issue.
