Should Turkey be given a chance?

(B2) The debate on Turkey held yesterday in the European Parliament transcends all divisions. The same arguments are used to justify different conclusions. Each invokes the spirits of Europe. And some politicians, diametrically opposed, display the same opinion.

Give turkey a chance

"Give turkey a chance" This could be the title of a song. This is the leitmotif of Camiel Eurlings, in charge of the report on Turkey's accession which was debated yesterday in the European Parliament. This young Dutch deputy, hitherto totally unknown, is convinced of this. "II was more than two weeks in Turkey and very impressed with the reforms. In recent years, there has been more progress than in the last forty years! »

Still a lot of human rights issues

Certainly there remains convinced that more reforms need to be undertaken and implemented » in particular on human rights. " There is still far too much torture in Turkey. I propose an unannounced service of investigation which can intervene in the police services. There are still issues of women's rights as well [like] religious freedoms. The Constitution still dates from the military period; it still needs to be reformed. We must reopen the borders with Armenia and provide for new methods of cooperation, to heal the wounds of the past. Finally there remains the question of Cyprus and its reunification ».

Start negotiations... on condition

Despite everything, Eurlings believes that negotiations must begin " démarrer », as the European Commission recommended in October, « without undue delay », putting on the table « three conditions: modify certain laws, exercise oversight of the commission, say that if negotiations begin, the continuation of negotiations will depend on the continuation of reforms ". A finding that seems to draw a large majority of deputies in its wake, but not unanimous enthusiasm.

A divided hemicycle

If the left supports his report, in a large majority, the right, both on the side of the European People's Party and the Liberals and Democrats, is more divided, crossed by an almost "Atlanticist" divide, notes a regular in parliamentary spans. On the one hand, the English, the Italians and most of the new Member States are fiercely in favor of Turkish membership; on the other, the Germans, French, Austrians, Hungarians, much more skeptical.

Sometimes personal dividing lines

But the dividing lines sometimes remain confused. Between those who want membership without discussion, subject to conditions, wanting to open a privileged partnership, all shades find expression, transcending political divisions and another sensitive debate, that on the Constitution. Cautious, moreover, most of the political groups have decided not to officially position themselves until today, the final vote on the report not to take place until Wednesday, the day before the opening of the summit of Heads of State and Government , in Brussels, which should ratify the opening of accession negotiations.

A country evolving at revolutionary speed

For Dutch Foreign Minister Atzo Nicolai, who holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU on behalf of the Netherlands, " Turkey is changing at revolutionary speed ". A development that is not disputed even among the most critical..." We recognize the evolutions but we are going to negotiate with a country which regularly violates human rights, a government which does not even recognize Cyprus, which is not logical”. Moreover, comments Hans Gert Pöttering, author of the EPP's position on the issue. He adds an intangible fact: the country has " an importance, a notable size, that we have never absorbed in the European Union ».

At stake: the opening of accession negotiations

« What is at stake today is the opening of negotiations., — recalls the Socialist Group's coordinator for foreign affairs, the Italian Pasqualina Napoletano —. Obviously, the negotiation itself will be long. Turkey will have to change, the European Union itself will evolve. To speak of privileged partnership is to give a negative sign ". Some politicians, diametrically opposed on the political spectrum, display the same opinion. " Turkey must not be left to Islamic fundamentalism adds his compatriot, from Forza Italia, Antonio Tajani.

Do not create a special lane

For the Pole Bronislaw Geremek (liberal and democrat). " It is important not to create a special lane that would be a siding. » However, the former leader of Solidarnosc does not forget two prerequisites " the recognition of Cyprus and the debate on the Armenian genocide. It would be in the European spirit ».

Knowing what we want for Europe

A spirit that rightly invokes the UDF, Marielle de Sarnez, who belongs to the same group. But with an opposite conclusion. " We are in a mechanism of enlargement which does not stop, where we do not take the time to think about the future of the European project, simple free trade zone or political Union which weighs? A dialectic shared by the enemy brother of the UMP. " turkey is a fake debate — says Jacques Toubon (UMP / EPP) — the real debate is to know what we want for Europe"

A Europe that trusts or withdraws into itself

A question at the heart of the discussion for Emma Bonino, also a member of the Liberal and Democratic Group which is overwhelmingly in favor of enlargement. “Sor we have a Europe which has self-confidence, capable of taking up challenges, relations with the Islamic world, immigration, a Europe which is expanding not lightly but in full awareness, a Europe for which it is worth the stroke of believing. Either we are heading towards a Europe that is closing in on itself. »

Keeping promises

Adeline Hazan, of the French PS, recognizes this, “ This is an extremely important, very divided debate. I am personally for the opening of negotiations, for membership. Because I think both for geostrategic reasons, it is more important to have it inside than outside. These are promises made in 1960, even if the context has changed, they commit us all. It is a way to pull Turkey up, human rights and economic development. Everything will not happen overnight, the time to prepare for it. »

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, in Strasbourg)

Long version of an article published in Ouest-France