PREVIEW: Stop threats to Cyprus, EU to tell Turkey

Πηγή: M&C
By Alvise Armellini

Oct 9 2011

Brussels - The European Union's executive is this week set to warn Ankara against carrying out further threats to Cyprus as it considers alternative ways to strengthen ties with an increasingly assertive Turkey following stalled accession talks.

Turkey has threatened to break off relations with the EU if the Republic of Cyprus - with which it is sparring over offshore gas and oil drilling - takes over the rotating presidency of the bloc in the second half of 2012.

In response, the European Commission is due to urge 'the avoidance of any kind of threat, source of friction or action that could damage good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes,' according to a draft document seen by dpa.

While Turkey's relations with Israel continue to worsen, and the country pursues contacts with Western pariahs such as Syria and Iran, the EU executive is also expected to call for the 'increased coordination' of Turkish and EU foreign policies.

Those messages are due to be delivered Wednesday, when the commission presents its annual report on countries hoping to join the bloc.

Turkey's EU bid is stumped by the so-called Cypriot question, but also by opposition from France and Germany, the two most influential members of the bloc.

'It has regrettably not been possible' to move forwards EU-Turkey accession talks 'for over a year,' the EU is set to acknowledge, proposing to reverse the trend with 'a new constructive phase in relations.'

One EU official said the commission would like to informally promote economic and trade ties, as well as increase EU visa application centres, while a visa-scrapping deal and formal talks on EU accession remain blocked.

It remains to be seen whether that would be enough for Turkey, which is gaining more and more influence in the Middle East.

The EU enlargement report is to be published against the backdrop of a deepening economic crisis, which is lessening EU members' appetite to let new nations into their club following Croatia's planned accession in 2013.

Reflecting such concerns, EU officials say there is still no consensus on whether the commission should say that Montenegro - another former Yugoslav nation - is ready to start accession talks, despite the report certifying its 'overall satisfactory' progress on meeting the conditions.

Recommendations on Serbia, which after having arrested Ratko Mladic and another war crimes suspect is looking to be rewarded with an EU candidate status - are also controversial.

Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger - a German - is among those in the EU executive calling for caution on Serbia and Montenegro, officials say.

A final decision on the two countries' prospects is to be made by EU leaders in December, based on what the commission proposes on Wednesday.

The Brussels-based body is also set to lament insufficient reforms in Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the deadlock on Macedonia's name, over which Greece is blocking the start of the country's EU accession talks.

Iceland, which applied to join the EU in 2009, has since made small progress due to a public opinion backlash owing to concerns about a loss of sovereignty over fisheries and a row with Britain and the Netherlands over the collapse of Icesave bank.

Noting that 'the dispute remains unresolved,' the commission is expected to back the view that Iceland breached European Free Trade Association rules by guaranteeing only the deposits of domestic clients of collapsed Icelandic banks.

That left British and Dutch authorities compensating nationals who had been burned out by Icesave. They want Iceland to refund them the money - about 3.8 billion euros (5 billion dollars).