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The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its satisfaction on the adoption of the
EU Council Conclusions on Enlargement, a text, which was the outcome of the
negotiations between member states earlier on.
The Council precisely and
accurately records the state of affairs as regards Turkey, underlining the
absolute lack of progress in relation to Turkey’s accession process.
Furthermore, the Council
reiterates Turkey’s responsibilities and obligations emerging from its
institutional obligations vis a vis the Republic of Cyprus.
Specifically, the conclusions
are extremely critical of Turkey, since they reaffirm the commitment on the
part of the EU to finding a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus
Problem on the basis of an agreed bizonal, bicommunal federation in line with
the relevant Security Council Resolutions, as well as the European Acquis and
the principles upon which the EU is founded. Moreover, the conclusions call
upon Turkey to contribute in the above direction.
An important innovative element
in this year’s Conclusions is the call on Ankara to stop all actions that
could potentially lead to the upgrading the pseudostate and that are, as a
result, contrary to Resolutions 541 and 550. This is the first time the said
reference is included in EU Conclusions and it is deemed as a reference of
vital significance in light of Turkey’s efforts to upgrade the status of the
secessionist entity.
Particularly important are also
the references to Varosha, which again condemn the illegal actions, and
Ankara is called upon to reverse the faits accomplis it attempts to impose
within the fenced – off area and to fully comply with the UN Security Council
Resolutions 550, 789, 1251.
The Council also expresses the
EU’s strong disappointment with Turkey’s non-alignment with the EU’s
restrictive measures against Russia as well as the overall distancing and the
conflicting policy of Ankara from the adoption of the political priorities of
the EU, especially those that fall under the framework of the Common Foreign
and Security Policy.
In addition, the latest
decisions of the EU Council are recorded as regards the situation in the
Eastern Mediterranean, including those of June 2022, when European leaders
expressed once more their concern over the continuing provocative moves and the
hybrid rhetoric of Ankara against member states.
At the same time, Turkey is
once more called upon to fulfil all its obligations vis a vis Cyprus, namely
the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, the normalization of relations,
and the extension of the Additional Protocol for Customs Union.
As regards the migration issue,
the Council reminds Turkey of its obligations –as these are recorded by the
European Council – to fully implement and without discrimination the 2016 EU
– Turkey Statement on Migration also in the case of the Republic of Cyprus.
A significant new element of
this year’s Conclusions is the reference to Turkey’s obligation to align its
visa policy with that of the EU.
(EP/MPO)
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