Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-06-Speech-3-008"
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"en.19991006.1.3-008"2
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"Madam President, Members of the European Parliament, Turkey is, economically, socially and culturally, a key partner of the European Union. Turkey also has, and will have, an important role to play in maintaining peace and stability in our continent. This has once again been proven with the recent events in the Balkans.
There is unanimity among the countries in the Union with regard both to Turkey’s importance as our partner in cooperation and the need for closer cooperation. It is something that has been mentioned by the European Union and individual Union countries in many connections. Just a few days ago, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Chancellor Schröder stated that the Union, for its part, would make a serious attempt to reach a positive conclusion at the forthcoming Summit in Helsinki. The central issue will be how to strengthen Turkey’s status as a candidate. There must be much active work and goodwill shown on the part of both the Union and Turkey to achieve this.
We are firmly of the opinion that bringing Turkey closer to the Union will be the best way of aiding the implementation of democratic reforms in the country. In this respect, the path of isolation does no more to promote the aims of Turkey than it does the aims of the Union. In this there is no doubt that we need the support of concrete action on the part of the European Parliament in matters of financing and general support to develop and consolidate relations between the European Union and Turkey.
It is clear that the Union and Turkey need one another. The importance of that cooperation was underlined four years ago, when the Customs Union became effective. It is our belief that the Customs Union has benefited both sides. Last year, EU exports to Turkey accounted for more than half of Turkey’s total imports, and Turkey’s exports to the Union area in the same year accounted for approximately half of its total exports. In this connection, it is worth noting, however, that the financial and institutional cooperation, which was agreed when the Customs Union agreement was made, has not come about in the way that was planned.
By virtue of the decisions made at Luxembourg in 1997 and Cardiff in 1998, Turkey is involved in the enlargement process. Turkey has had created for it, its own strategy for preparing for membership: the so-called European Strategy. This strategy involves both a broadening of cooperation in different areas, as well as financial cooperation. Finland, as the country holding the Presidency, is endeavouring to enhance the implementation of the European Strategy. Two proposals for a Regulation relating to financial cooperation in respect of the European Strategy are at present on the agenda in the European Parliament. It will be very difficult to implement the strategy fully without financing. As the country holding the Presidency, we appeal to Parliament to debate these regulations in a positive frame of mind, and as promptly as possible. As we all know, there was a tragic earthquake in Turkey in August. The damage the country suffered as a result, as well as the serious economic damage, underline even more the importance of financing.
The Union is closely following the development of democracy in her partner in cooperation. There are serious failings with regard to human rights in Turkey, including the rights of minority groups. We hear all too frequently about
restrictions on the freedom of speech. This is not in harmony with our European values. We have, however, noted with satisfaction a recent move on the part of the Turkish Government to implement democratic reforms and improve the situation regarding human rights. We also wish to encourage Turkey to continue on its path to reform. The OSCE
Summit in Istanbul on 18 – 19 November will be an important opportunity for Turkey to show that it is trying to improve the situation with regard to generally accepted civil liberties.
The European Union opposes the death penalty everywhere, and whatever the case. It is a common objective of the Union to abolish capital punishment everywhere in the world. Under Turkish legislation, it is still possible to pass and implement the death sentence. However, the death sentence has not been carried out in the country since 1984. We hope that Turkey will refrain from implementing the death sentence in cases where such a sentence has been passed – including the PKK leader, Abdullah Öçalan. We expect Turkey to remove the death sentence from its statutes entirely and continue with its moratorium until that time. In addition, we would like to remind everyone that non-implementation of the death penalty belongs to the common set of values of the Union, a Union whose membership Turkey has indicated it aspires to.
Recently we have seen encouraging signs that relations between Turkey and Greece have improved. We hold in high regard the contribution that Greece has made to this development, and we consider the dialogue that has started between these countries to be a very positive step forward. It has been quite moving to see the genuine show of sympathy and solidarity in both Turkey and Greece, as a result of earthquakes in both countries. We hope that the positive climate that has recently developed will be a step towards a more lasting improvement in relations between the countries. Increased cooperation breeds trust, which can only lead to reinforced stability in the eastern Mediterranean and the whole of Europe. This is to our common advantage.
Although the dialogue I mentioned awakens optimism in us, difficult questions remain. The European Union and the country holding the Presidency give their full support to UN efforts to achieve a lasting and just solution to the situation in Cyprus. This autumn we hope to make headway in finding a solution to a problem that has dragged on for too long. We believe that Turkey, for its part, can contribute to the process wherein a just solution may be found
When I went to Turkey, two weeks ago, I discovered that the destruction resulting from August’s earthquake was the most extensive in Europe since the Second World War. Turkey cannot cope alone with the demanding task of reconstruction. There is no full reckoning as yet of the cost of repairing the damage caused, but estimates vary between USD 3 million and 6.5 million. The earthquake left 400,000 people homeless. At present, they are living in tents. With winter approaching, it is no longer possible to live in such conditions. The European Union wishes to support the reconstruction work in Turkey. We also trust in the constructive cooperation on the part of the European Parliament in this important area.
During its presidential term, Finland will strive to do its best to integrate Turkey more closely into European structures. This aspiration on the part of the country holding the Presidency has been given a good basis by an exchange of letters between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the Union’s previous country to hold the Presidency. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit reconfirmed in his letter that he thought the Copenhagen criteria were a basis for Turkey’s aspirations for membership."@en1
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