EU agrees on Turkey stand

EU Foreign Ministers yesterday agreed to support the European Commission's recommendation to put on hold the accession negotiations on eight crucial chapters with Turkey until that country respects fully an agreement it entered with the EU before stating accession talks.

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told The Times following the meeting that the compromise reached was most satisfactory for Malta.

"We have agreed to keep the door open but at the same time show that we are serious. Malta took a very active part in this debate and the conclusions respected fully our views set at the beginning of the debate."

The 25 EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels agreed to suspend eight chapters of Turkey's 35-strong EU negotiations package, sanctioning Ankara for its continuing blockade on sea and air traffic from Cyprus, deemed illegal under an EU-Turkey customs agreement, known as the Ankara agreement.

At the same time yesterday's decision includes a "review" mechanism where continuous "reporting" from the European Commission should scrutinise the ports' situation in Turkey, without setting a concrete deadline on the Turks to open up trade as required by Cyprus and Greece.

EU Ministers also agreed that no chapter of the EU acquis shall be provisionally closed until Turkey adheres to its obligations. Until now Turkey has failed to open its sea and airports to Cypriot vessels and airplanes because it does not recognise the Cypriot island state.

Minister Frendo said Malta remains in favour of Turkey's accession to the EU but rules have to be respected.

"Malta did not want a train crash or a prelude to a train crash. We wanted to continue to draw Turkey to the EU family on the terms of the EU acquis and the values of tolerance, human rights and democracy at law.

"We also did not want the EU to lose its credibility. That's why Malta supported the Commission's recommendation as reaching the right balance."

The decision will also mean that the upcoming EU Summit, scheduled for the end of this week will not be overtaken by this issue.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will on Thursday be in Brussels to take part in a two-day summit with his counterparts at the end of the Finnish EU Presidency. One of the items on the agenda is the EU's policy on migration.