EU’s Double Progress Report on Turkey

The European Commission’s (EC) Enlargement Commissioner, Günther Verheugen, made a statement yesterday in which he disclosed that the second report is being prepared. Verheugen said that the second report will examine possible political, economic and cultural effects of Turkey’s membership in the E.U. The Commissioner added it would not be realistic for member countries to decide on Turkey’s membership without putting forward the effects of its membership.

Meanwhile, Ankara thinks the said report will be affirmative, that it will be a technical report rather than a political one, and that it will reflect objective realities. It was also discovered that Brussels assured Ankara that the figures in the report are estimates and apply to current conditions and that this will be stated in the report. To include this statement in the report is important because after E.U. reforms, the quantities of harmonization and structural funds — in particular agricultural — given to member countries will be revised.

Despite Ankara’s positive outlook, the group that opposes Turkey’s membership is observed to support the project. Opposition advocates say the ‘big cost’ of Turkish membership to the Union will emerge in the report and that it would be more logical to suggest a privileged partnership for Turkey. It is crucially important that the effect report is neutral in order not to give any trump card to those who oppose Turkey’s membership.