The Swedish Presidency comes at a time of major challenges.
Overriding priorities have to do with the economic situation in the world, employment and climate change. The focus is also on the role of the European Union as a global actor, with a clear agenda for peace, development, democracy and human rights. In this context, continued enlargement is of strategic importance for securing peace, stability, development and progress in a unified Europe.
The history of the European Union and its enlargement tells us that EU membership is a strong guarantor of lasting peace, reforms and social progress. To this end, the Swedish Presidency will stand firm on the commitments made in line with the renewed consensus on enlargement by the European Council in December 2006 – and equally firm on obligations.
The EU appreciates the strategic importance of Turkey. Turkey continues to play an active and constructive role, through its contribution to peacekeeping efforts and its diplomatic initiatives, in relation to the South Caucasus, the Middle East and beyond. To this end, the Council welcomes the close political dialogue between the EU and Turkey on all these matters. The Council particularly encourages the efforts to normalise relations with Armenia - a process we follow with keen interest and where we hope to see concrete steps of implementation soon. With energy security emerging as an increasingly important issue, we note with satisfaction Turkey's closer energy co-operation with the EU.
The Swedish Presidency considers the Cyprus issue to be one of the most important strategical issues during this second half of 2009.
The Council will continue to follow up and review progress made on the Additional Protocol to the Ankara agreement, covered by the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005 and in accordance with its conclusions of December 2006. Swift progress on this contractual obligation continues to be expected from Turkey.
As regards the Cyprus issue, we expect Turkey will continue to support the on-going talks between the Leaders of the two Cypriot communities and to contribute to a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded.
This year has seen a number of important developments - Turkey has held free and fair local elections, Minister Bağis has been appointed full-time EU Chief Negotiator and a National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis has been adopted.And Turkey "sufficiently fulfils" the political criteria. It should be recognized that some progress has been achieved over the last year in key areas such as freedom of expression and cultural rights. However, continued reforms and implementation efforts are still required in most areas related to the political criteria, including freedom of speech, in order for these reforms to be fully compatible with EU standards. This was also a key message in the Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey this year.
In the coming weeks, the Council will continue to examine the 2009 Progress Report and, on this basis, will assess progress so far and draw its conclusions.
Up until now, a total of eleven chapters have been provisionally opened, of which one - Science and Research - has been provisionally closed. The pace of the negotiations depends notably on Turkey's own progress in addressing opening and closing benchmarks, as well as the requirements of the Negotiating Framework and the Accession Partnership.Due implementation of the Turkish National Programme for the Adoption of the acquis, reflecting these priorities, could serve as an important key planning tool for further reforms.
Along those lines, the Swedish Presidency strives to register further progress in the negotiations with Turkey this year. We are working hard together with the Member States, the Commission and our Turkish friends on the important and technically complex chapter on Environment, in order to open the chapter in December. The fact that we are now working on this chapter indicates that the negotiations are moving into more difficult and also more significant territory. This is in line with the mechanics of accession negotiations. You first start out with the easier chapters, before you move into the more difficult ones.
The Council welcomes the renewed commitment of the Turkish government to continue the reform process and address existing shortcomings. We now expect Turkey to further step up its reform efforts, including addressing the increasingly pressing need for constitutional reforms that could allow for further democratisation and give stronger guarantees on fundamental human rights, in line with EU standards. We sincerely hope that all Turkish political actors will work together to further a spirit of constructive dialogue and compromise, conducive to the reform efforts.
At the end of the day Turkey, just as all past and future candidate countries, will be assessed against its preparedness to reform in order to meet the conditions set up in each negotiating chapter, and against its capacity to align itself with the norms and values of the EU.
And here you, as elected representatives of the people’s of Turkey and the EU, have an important and historical role to play. I wish you all success in your future cooperation and deliberations.
Thank you very much for your attention.