Report: Turkey accession talks should start within two years

The Dutch advisory council stresses
continued human rights problems in Turkey but recommends that
EU accession talks should start within two years.

The Dutch EU presidency, which will
play a pivotal role in deciding whether the EU should
start accession talks with Turkey at the EU summit in
December 2004, has received fresh advice that it should
do just that. 

AIV, the influential Dutch Advisory
Council on International Affairs, casts aside any
hesitations about admitting Turkey because of its largely
Muslim population: “Admitting a Muslim country may be new
to the EU, but does not principally differ from earlier
expansions. One way or the other, Islam should gain a
place within the EU,” says the report, underlining that
there are already 20 million Muslims in the EU
countries. 

In fact, the AIV goes further by
recommending a start to accession talks within two years
and possibly even earlier if Turkey continues to
successfully implement democratic reforms. However, the
report warns against setting a target date for the actual
accession, saying it could raise false
expectations. 

While praising Turkey’s reform efforts
in recent years, the report also points to lingering
human rights problems such as continued torture and
mistreatment of prisoners at police stations, the
widespread abuse of women and restrictions on free
expression. 

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