‘ We Should be Ready For Membership Discussions’

In a speech delivered in Brussels, Verheugen gave hope to Ankara four months before the release of two progress reports that will lay the groundwork for the decision to either start or postpone negotiations with Turkey. Verheugen stressed that they have been a bit tolerant toward the ten new members who joined EU on May 1st and indicated that Turkey should be given the same margin. The EU cannot apply a double standard to Turkey, the Commissioner said "We cannot demand of Turkey what we have not obtained from our own members." the European Union (EU) should be ready to start negotiations with Ankara."

Regarding the attitudes of the new members towards Turkey, Verheugen said he believed that the ten new countries would support Ankara. He also said that even though Hungary and Poland claimed to be against Turkey, they thought that Ankara’s membership would be useful to EU interests. Disagreements between European political leaders and the public opinion are normal, Verheugen said, and blamed the European governments for not educating their people enough about the enlargement. He added that they decided to prepare a report on the effect of Turkey’s membership in order to inform people about Turkey in advance. The Commission will release the progress report that will pave the way for the EU to commence negotiations with Turkey in October. Heads of states and governments of the EU will make a decision to either start or postpone the negotiations at the December Summit based on the reports.