'Last opportunity' for Turkey

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told the Associated Press that if Turkey does not recognise Cyprus by the end of 2007, it would be "necessary to rethink the timetable for the adhesion of Turkey to the EU".

Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis told the Associated Press that Greece was concerned with the absence of substantial progress. At the same time he underlined: "We must not deny our neighbours the incentive and dream of full membership. But the final responsibility lies with Turkey."

MEP Camiel Eurlings (EPP), rapporteur for the Parliament’s report on Turkey said: “The Commission and the Parliament take a common stand: Turkey must implement the necessary reforms as soon as possible.” On Cyprus he made it clear that “either a blockade of the opening of chapters related to trade or a plain postponement of the negotiations altogether would be drastic. He added: “Turkey is offered a final chance which it should take. Now is the moment of truth.”

Socialist Group Vice-President Jan Marinus Wiersma said: "The reform process in Turkey must continue. Both sides need to continue to work hard to find agreement on outstanding issues. But the Ankara protocol is an important question of law: it is not up for negotiation and it must be implemented fully." He added: "Despite the criticisms of Turkey, we believe that it was the right decision to keep talks open."

Elmar Brok from the Parliament’s EPP group criticised what he sees as a shift of responsibility of the Commission’s progress report on Turkey to the December summit of the EU heads of state and government. He said “The Commission evades a final evaluation of Turkey, in particular with respect to the unresolved Cyprus question. This means not only a lack of credibility towards the European public, but also continues to weaken the EU negotiation position vis-à-vis Turkey.”

Liberal MEP Andrew Duff judged the report as “fair and informed”. On the Cyprus issue he said “Turkey must of course fulfil its customs obligations. But the Greek Cypriots must also show themselves willing to share power with their fellow islanders in line with UN and EU policy.” He added: “Nobody must lose sight of the long-term strategic importance of encouraging Turkey towards eventual membership of the EU.”

Green MEP Joost Lagendijk, chairman to the EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee, said that the critical approach of the report was justified, but warned: “Those who claim that the current ‘slow-down’ in the reform process is sufficient justification for halting accession negotiations demonstrate a lack of understanding of the situation in Turkey.” He urged all sides to use the time before the December summit to try to reach an agreement on the Cyprus issue. Lagendijk warned: “Bringing a stop to the accession negotiations would be the worst possible step for the reform process in Turkey.”