Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2015-05-20-Speech-3-610-000"
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"en.20150520.37.3-610-000"2
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"Madam President, it is some 50 years, I think, since Turkey first put forward its application to join the European Community. I must say I welcome the Commissioner’s undertaking to re-energise the relationship with Turkey but, in spite of lip service to Turkish accession, there is a fundamental dishonesty about whether or not Turkey will ever join the sort of EU that we have today. I have to say that many – not just in my own country but across Europe – would like to see a fundamentally different sort of European Union: a less tightly knit community of sovereign nations, with overlapping circles of engagement, an end to ever closer union, and a primary focus on making a success of the single market. I would suggest that this is the sort of European Union that would be far more hospitable to Turkey.
The resolution reflects the ambivalence on the European Union side, recognising on the one hand the importance of Turkey’s position as a strategic partner, and particularly its significance in economic and energy relations, while on the other hand there is so much about Turkey itself which is subject to criticism. We cannot go on offering insults and expecting progress in return.
Energy cooperation is a crucial issue. We should oppose the Turkish Stream project, which would bring Russian gas across the Black Sea to Turkey, and work towards the opening of Chapter 15 in order to encourage Turkey to continue to engage with the European Union instead. May I ask the Commission what other specific barriers there are to opening the energy chapter with Turkey?
For many, the continued division of Cyprus is a useful obstacle to progress in relations with Turkey, and if the EU really wanted to do something useful it would devote much political effort to helping to resolve the Cyprus issue. Such a resolution would even be helpful in boosting economic and political confidence in Greece, may I add.
Instead, the European Union continues to make lame, one-sided demands about, for example, the additional protocol, or fails to fulfil its own promises with regard to Northern Cyprus. The new president of Northern Cyprus, Mr Akıncı, has shown a great willingness to reach an accommodation. What more will the EU do to help?
We need to make sure that Turkey continues to play its vital role as a strong ally in NATO and a partner of the European Union: part of the alliance confronting terrorism and instability in the Middle East and across the Black Sea, with a prosperous economy and anchored firmly in the democratic family of nations. We need to do more to help Turkey in this direction."@en1
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