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Business Online, UK
Oct 9 2005
France is the big obstacle to Turkey's EU ambitions
By : Jonathan Gorvett in Istanbul October 09, 2005
WITH Turkey finally starting European Union (EU) accession talks 46
years after first applying, a 10-year road of tough negotiations and
difficult decisions lies ahead. And after all that, enlargement could
still be vetoed, especially by France, which changed its constitution
earlier this year to stipulate that a referendum must be held before
Turkey is allowed to join - a prospect facing opposition from
ordinary French voters.
The first new step is on 20 October, when EU chiefs will assess what
needs to be done before the real talks on membership can begin. Then
in November, the European Commission publishes its scorecard report
on Turkey's progress in economic and political reforms - a document
likely to be critical of the country's human and minority rights
record.
And after this, talks may begin, focusing on 35 subjects - known as
chapters - in which Turkey will have to show conformity with EU
standards. On each occasion, the approval of existing member states
will be needed before one can be closed and the next opened.
These chapters cover everything from foreign policy to intellectual
property rights, from environmental standards to trans-European
highways.
Many feel that Britain, which currently holds the EU presidency, will
also want to close at least one chapter before the end of this year,
establishing the accession process. Most likely then, the first
chapter chosen will be an easy one - such as science and research
rules.
A series of more irksome issues is likely to follow. Raymond James
Securities chief macroeconomist Ozgur Altug says: `Number one of
these will be Cyprus. When it comes to the chapter on the free
movement of goods and services, there could be serious problems here
for Turkey.'
The difficulty is that at this point Turkey will likely come up
against demands from Nicosia that it open its ports and airports to
Cypriot traffic.
Turkey is technically obliged to do so under the terms of the customs
union agreement it has with the EU. Yet Ankara has not recognised the
Greek Cypriot dominated government on the island since it invaded
back in 1974 and has so far refused to open its doors.
The second difficulty is likely to be farming. About 40% of Turkey's
70m population works on the land, mainly in co-operatives and
individual holdings. Farmers have been used to receiving subsidies in
price supports from the state for decades, while many staple products
- such as tomatoes, sunflower and olive oil and oriental leaf tobacco
- are oversupplied by other EU countries. Other sectors remain
protected against imports, breaking EU trade policies.
Agricultural Minister Mahdi Eker said last week that he recognised
that `a difficult time lies ahead' for farming, while placing his
faith in a new Agriculture Strategic Action plan, due to begin
implementation in January 2006. This will roll back price supports
and, advocates hope, boost competitiveness - yet it is also likely to
cause political and social discontent.
Then there is the environment. The chapter on this requires the
Turkish private sector to spend E35bn to meet EU environmental
standards, from health and safety at work to food hygiene standards.
Yet for the years 2005-07, the total financial assistance Turkey can
expect from the EU will be E350m a year.
Another area of concern though is minority rights. Turkey's now-small
but once large ethnic Greek and Armenian populations have long
complained that much of their property has been taken from them over
the years by government. Sorting out restoration rights will be a
complex legal process; minority groups have already stated that they
do not see the latest government draft law on this issue in a
favourable light.
With support for EU accession in Turkey dwindling in recent months -
according to a recent newspaper poll to 57% - the government will
also have to watch its back, while its presents its front to
Brussels.
http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?France%20is%20the%20big%20obstacle%20 to%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20EU%20ambitions&StoryID '0D3980-6A53-4833-97CA-DE8E8BF92496&SectionIDº48E3D7-CCB9-4976-883F-EE19F9206FB3
Oct 9 2005
France is the big obstacle to Turkey's EU ambitions
By : Jonathan Gorvett in Istanbul October 09, 2005
WITH Turkey finally starting European Union (EU) accession talks 46
years after first applying, a 10-year road of tough negotiations and
difficult decisions lies ahead. And after all that, enlargement could
still be vetoed, especially by France, which changed its constitution
earlier this year to stipulate that a referendum must be held before
Turkey is allowed to join - a prospect facing opposition from
ordinary French voters.
The first new step is on 20 October, when EU chiefs will assess what
needs to be done before the real talks on membership can begin. Then
in November, the European Commission publishes its scorecard report
on Turkey's progress in economic and political reforms - a document
likely to be critical of the country's human and minority rights
record.
And after this, talks may begin, focusing on 35 subjects - known as
chapters - in which Turkey will have to show conformity with EU
standards. On each occasion, the approval of existing member states
will be needed before one can be closed and the next opened.
These chapters cover everything from foreign policy to intellectual
property rights, from environmental standards to trans-European
highways.
Many feel that Britain, which currently holds the EU presidency, will
also want to close at least one chapter before the end of this year,
establishing the accession process. Most likely then, the first
chapter chosen will be an easy one - such as science and research
rules.
A series of more irksome issues is likely to follow. Raymond James
Securities chief macroeconomist Ozgur Altug says: `Number one of
these will be Cyprus. When it comes to the chapter on the free
movement of goods and services, there could be serious problems here
for Turkey.'
The difficulty is that at this point Turkey will likely come up
against demands from Nicosia that it open its ports and airports to
Cypriot traffic.
Turkey is technically obliged to do so under the terms of the customs
union agreement it has with the EU. Yet Ankara has not recognised the
Greek Cypriot dominated government on the island since it invaded
back in 1974 and has so far refused to open its doors.
The second difficulty is likely to be farming. About 40% of Turkey's
70m population works on the land, mainly in co-operatives and
individual holdings. Farmers have been used to receiving subsidies in
price supports from the state for decades, while many staple products
- such as tomatoes, sunflower and olive oil and oriental leaf tobacco
- are oversupplied by other EU countries. Other sectors remain
protected against imports, breaking EU trade policies.
Agricultural Minister Mahdi Eker said last week that he recognised
that `a difficult time lies ahead' for farming, while placing his
faith in a new Agriculture Strategic Action plan, due to begin
implementation in January 2006. This will roll back price supports
and, advocates hope, boost competitiveness - yet it is also likely to
cause political and social discontent.
Then there is the environment. The chapter on this requires the
Turkish private sector to spend E35bn to meet EU environmental
standards, from health and safety at work to food hygiene standards.
Yet for the years 2005-07, the total financial assistance Turkey can
expect from the EU will be E350m a year.
Another area of concern though is minority rights. Turkey's now-small
but once large ethnic Greek and Armenian populations have long
complained that much of their property has been taken from them over
the years by government. Sorting out restoration rights will be a
complex legal process; minority groups have already stated that they
do not see the latest government draft law on this issue in a
favourable light.
With support for EU accession in Turkey dwindling in recent months -
according to a recent newspaper poll to 57% - the government will
also have to watch its back, while its presents its front to
Brussels.
http://www.thebusinessonline.com/Stories.aspx?France%20is%20the%20big%20obstacle%20 to%20Turkey%E2%80%99s%20EU%20ambitions&StoryID '0D3980-6A53-4833-97CA-DE8E8BF92496&SectionIDº48E3D7-CCB9-4976-883F-EE19F9206FB3