A welcome start to negotiations with Turkey
June 12, 2006 6:00 PM
Andrew Duff MEP (UK, Lib Dem), Vice-President of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, has welcomed the "rational decision" of the EU foreign ministers to open the membership negotiations with Turkey on the science and research chapter which will be the first of 35 negotiating chapters comprising Turkey's EU accession process. Negotiations finally got underway after the Cypriot Government lifted objections to beginning the formal negotiations.
In a statement today, DUFF remarked: "Everybody knows that the Cyprus question needs to be resolved as speedily as possible, and that it will not be possible for Turkey to join the Union if North Cyprus is left in limbo."
"It is at least encouraging that the Council appears to be keeping faith with the commitment it has already made to Turkey."
Annemie Neyts MEP (VLD, Belgium) and ALDE spokesperson on foreign affairs also reacted to the news:
"Today marks the first step in this new direction that Turkey and the EU have set for themselves."
"The chapter on science and research poses no difficulties and should serve to set a positive climate for the tough negotiations to follow.
"However, the success and speed of the negotiation process will depend to a large extent on Turkey's continued drive for reform, respect for fundamental rights and to its commitments under the association agreement and additional protocol."
Ends
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