The Foreign Ministry welcomes the adoption of the text of the EU Council Conclusions on Enlargement, which was the result of negotiations between the Member States in the previous period.
The Council accurately and succinctly records the state of affairs with regard to Turkey, underlining the complete lack of progress in its accession process. In particular, the Conclusions are particularly critical of Turkey, as they reaffirm the EU's commitment to finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed form of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, compatible with the European acquis and the principles on which the EU is founded.
In particular, the Conclusions are particularly critical of Turkey, as they reaffirm the EU's commitment to finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed form of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, compatible with the European acquis and the principles on which the EU is founded. The Conclusions even call on Turkey to contribute in this direction.
An important innovative element of this year's Conclusions is the call to Ankara to stop any actions that could potentially lead to the upgrading of the pseudo-state and are therefore contrary to Resolutions 541 and 550. This reference is included for the first time in EU Conclusions and is considered to be of major importance in the light of Turkey's efforts to upgrade the status of the breakaway entity.
Particularly important are the references to Varosha, which again condemns the illegal actions and calls on Ankara to reverse the fait accompli it is attempting to impose within the enclosed area and to fully respect Security Council Resolutions 550, 789 and 1251.
The Council also expresses the EU's strong disappointment at Turkey's failure to align itself with the EU's restrictive measures against Russia and at Ankara's general disengagement and conflicting policies with the adoption of the Union's political priorities, notably those falling within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
In addition, Turkey is once again called upon to implement all its Cyprus obligations, namely recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, normalization of relations, extension of the Additional Protocol to the Customs Union.
In addition, Turkey is once again called upon to implement all its Cyprus obligations, namely recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, normalization of relations, extension of the Additional Protocol to the Customs Union.
In addition, Turkey is once again called upon to implement all its Cyprus obligations, namely recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, normalization of relations, extension of the Additional Protocol to the Customs Union.
With regard to migration, the Council recalls Turkey's obligations - as recorded by the European Council - to implement fully and without discrimination the 2016 EU-Turkey Declaration on migration vis-à-vis the Republic of Cyprus.
Also, an important new element of this year's Conclusions is the reference to Turkey's obligation to align its visa policy with that of the EU.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
