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EU-Turkey relations on edge after Germany blocks talks
Today @ 09:28
By Andrew Rettman
BRUSSELS - Turkey has reacted angrily to Germany's hesitation on
restarting EU entry talks.
The talks were to resume on Wednesday (26 June), with the opening of a
chapter on regions, after negotiations broke off in late 2010.
But Germany's EU ambassador at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday said
he is not willing to give the green light.
An EU official said the Dutch ambassador also placed a "procedural
reserve" on the Netherlands' approval, saying he must consult with The
Hague before he makes up his mind.
The development comes after Turkey's violent crackdown on street
protests over the past two weeks.
But it does not mean that Wednesday's accession talks will definitely
be cancelled.
The other 25 EU countries and the European Commission are keen to go ahead.
The German government is also divided on the subject.
Chancellor Angela Merkel this week strongly criticised Turkish leader
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But her foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, on
Thursday said the EU should also open a second chapter - on free
speech and freedom of assembly - in reaction to events.
The EU ambassadors will meet again on Monday morning in Luxembourg.
If they cannot agree, EU foreign ministers are likely to tackle the
issue at the same venue later in the day.
In the meantime, Turkish officials say they are considering a range of
options if Germany upholds its veto.
Potential measures include: withdrawing Turkey's EU ambassador, Selim
Yenel, for consultations in Ankara; cancelling joint EU meetings on
foreign policy; and cancelling meetings between Turkish MPs and MEPs.
"The reaction in Ankara will I think be quite harsh ... I hope common
sense will prevail in the EU," a Turkish source told this website.
Another Turkish contact said: "We have fulfilled all the technical
conditions [for opening the regions chapter]. So the German objection
is political."
For his part, Turkey's EU affairs minister Egemen Bagis told Turkish
TV that Merkel is trying to exploit the situation to win right-wing
votes.
"If Mrs Merkel is looking for domestic political material for her
elections [in September], that material should not be Turkey," he
said.
He likened her to former centre-right French leader Nicolas Sarkozy,
saying the Frenchman bashed Turkey in his election campaign last year,
but lost.
"Sarkozy tried to use it [Turkey] before, but it did not end too well
for him," he noted.
"Those who mess about with Turkey do not have an auspicious end," he added.
http://euobserver.com/enlargement/120595
Today @ 09:28
By Andrew Rettman
BRUSSELS - Turkey has reacted angrily to Germany's hesitation on
restarting EU entry talks.
The talks were to resume on Wednesday (26 June), with the opening of a
chapter on regions, after negotiations broke off in late 2010.
But Germany's EU ambassador at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday said
he is not willing to give the green light.
An EU official said the Dutch ambassador also placed a "procedural
reserve" on the Netherlands' approval, saying he must consult with The
Hague before he makes up his mind.
The development comes after Turkey's violent crackdown on street
protests over the past two weeks.
But it does not mean that Wednesday's accession talks will definitely
be cancelled.
The other 25 EU countries and the European Commission are keen to go ahead.
The German government is also divided on the subject.
Chancellor Angela Merkel this week strongly criticised Turkish leader
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But her foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, on
Thursday said the EU should also open a second chapter - on free
speech and freedom of assembly - in reaction to events.
The EU ambassadors will meet again on Monday morning in Luxembourg.
If they cannot agree, EU foreign ministers are likely to tackle the
issue at the same venue later in the day.
In the meantime, Turkish officials say they are considering a range of
options if Germany upholds its veto.
Potential measures include: withdrawing Turkey's EU ambassador, Selim
Yenel, for consultations in Ankara; cancelling joint EU meetings on
foreign policy; and cancelling meetings between Turkish MPs and MEPs.
"The reaction in Ankara will I think be quite harsh ... I hope common
sense will prevail in the EU," a Turkish source told this website.
Another Turkish contact said: "We have fulfilled all the technical
conditions [for opening the regions chapter]. So the German objection
is political."
For his part, Turkey's EU affairs minister Egemen Bagis told Turkish
TV that Merkel is trying to exploit the situation to win right-wing
votes.
"If Mrs Merkel is looking for domestic political material for her
elections [in September], that material should not be Turkey," he
said.
He likened her to former centre-right French leader Nicolas Sarkozy,
saying the Frenchman bashed Turkey in his election campaign last year,
but lost.
"Sarkozy tried to use it [Turkey] before, but it did not end too well
for him," he noted.
"Those who mess about with Turkey do not have an auspicious end," he added.
http://euobserver.com/enlargement/120595