EU Invites Turkey To Intergovernmental Conference

A diplomat who saw the draft told that the Netherlands had initially objected to Turkey’s participation at the summit, but was later persuaded to reverse its decision, allowing Turkey to participate in the Intergovernmental Conference as an observer. Observer status allows a representative to attend plenary meetings of the conference, without the right to speak, vote or stand for election. Bulgaria and Romania have also been afforded the status of observer. Previously, Ankara had been excluded from the conference due to the lack of scheduled full-membership negotiations. Last week, the EU term president, as well as five EU countries, Germany, Britain, France, Spain and Italy, approved the invitation of Ankara to the conference. The agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference will include discussions of the EU constitution, prepared by the European Council (EC).

Reports also indicate that the Thessaloniki Summit will issue a summary statement pertaining to Turkey’s reform efforts.

In the statement, the EU apparently notes its satisfaction with the Turkish government’s ongoing efforts toward reform and the EU’s support for Turkey’s efforts to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. The statement indicates that even though Turkey’s efforts are appreciated, there are important steps yet to be taken and that these steps will affect the upcoming decision involving initiation of negotiations in the 2004 EU Summit.

The statement points out that the prerequisites listed in the Accession treaty and explained by the EU in Athens on April 16, 2003, need to be fulfilled. The statement also states that the fulfillment of the prerequisites would bring Turkey closer to full membership. Diplomatic sources state that there is no reference in the statement to the escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece. There was, however, a reference to the Helsinki Summit, held on July 9 – 10, 1992.

Selcuk Gultasli / Brussels / BELGIUM