Chance for EU-Turkey negotiation in 2005

Turkey’s status would be assessed in a major review in 2004, said EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen, and the progress it had made towards meeting the membership criteria would be the deciding factor on whether accession talks opened the following year.
“We will study the reforms and if the results are positive and the political criteria have been met then we will start full membership negotiations without delay,” he said.
However the EU Commissioner warned that time would be needed to put in place some technical details ahead of the talks, meaning that the negotiations could only begin in the first half of 2005.
While Turkey had made great strides in implementing required reforms and the present government was committed to Turkey’s EU path, Verheugen said that there was still much to be done.
One thing that needed to be addressed was the role of military in Turkey, he said, adding that as this was a sensitive issue the EU had not as yet touched upon it greatly.
“The role of the military should be regulated,” he said. “There is no excuse for having military representatives in organisations of education, radio and television. Turkey has to be in harmony with the EU on this issue.”
He praised the recent decision of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to open its borders with the Greek Cypriots administered south of the island. He said that he had strong belief that there could be a solution in Cyprus, hopefully before the deadline of May 1.