Turkey: membership application, 12 April 1987

The committee adopted the report by Philippe MORILLON (EPP-ED, F) on the state of the accession negotiations with Turkey. The committee said that Turkey did not currently meet the Copenhagen political criteria. However, it welcomed the resumption of political dialogue in the Association Council and the establishment of eight subcommittees responsible for setting priorities for the incorporation of the acquis communautaire. The report encouraged the Turkish Government to step up its efforts towards democratisation and to implement the UN conventions on political, civil, social and cultural rights which Turkey had recently signed. The committee welcomed the adoption of the report drawn up by the Turkish Supreme Coordination Council for Human Rights, which proposed major constitutional reforms. However, it wanted concrete measures to be added to protect the rights of minorities. It also welcomed the adoption of the law suspending the prosecution of, and sanctions for, press and broadcasting offences. The committee called for the death penalty to be abolished as soon as possible and, pending such abolition, for the current moratorium on executions to continue. It also recalled Parliament's commitment to recognition of the basic rights of minorities in Turkey. In view of the tragic past of the Armenian minority, the committee wanted the government and the Turkish Grand National Assembly to assist the Armenians in Turkey. It also stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict, one which both respected Turkey's territorial integrity and included political, economic and social reforms. The Turkish Government was called upon to take part, without preconditions, in talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties, with a view to reaching a negotiated, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement which complied with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the recommendations of the UN General Assembly. It was also urged to withdraw its occupation forces from northern Cyprus. The committee called for a continuation of the efforts to step up implementation of pre-accession aid and asked the Council and Commission to reassess the volume of the Community·s financial assistance to Turkey. Lastly, it welcomed Turkey·s willingness to contribute to improving European capabilities under the European security and defence policy.�