France will not block opening of first chapter of EU talks with Turkey
France showed flexibility in approving quick opening and closing of the first chapter of Turkey's accession talks scheduled for next Monday, diplomats said yesterday. But the Greek Cypriots continued their insistence to include demands from Ankara on the Cyprus problem.
Days before the planned EU-Turkey Association Council meeting and Intergovernmental Conference next Monday, EU members continued discussions on a common position paper for the "science and research" chapter, the first of 35 chapters of accession talks that are expected to continue at least 10 years.
France had long opposed closure of the science and research chapter in the same day, claiming that there should be benchmarks, the EU term describing reference conditions, defined for the closure of this chapter. French diplomats earlier raised several issues, including enhancing autonomy of science and research bodies, developing the administrative capacities and examination of compatibility of international agreements in this field to EU law, and sought for them to be defined as closure benchmarks.
But the majority of EU members did hot give support to the French suggestion. That was based mainly on European Commission's earlier report following examination of Turkey's legislation and implementation on this chapter. The Commission did not suggest any closure benchmark.
France argues that the problem is a question of methodology, and according to the agreed "negotiations framework" with Turkey, EU has to define closure benchmarks in each of the 35 chapters. But according to observers, this is more of an attempt to complicate Turkey's EU accession talks, and is for "domestic consumption" in France.
EU enlargement and Turkey's possible membership is a sensitive issue in France and public polls show that the majority of French people oppose it. French politicians are extremely cautious about not being seen as pro-Turkey's EU process, particularly in the runup to next year's presidential elections.
EU diplomats said yesterday that France recently showed flexibility in quick opening and closing of the science and research chapter, but also wanted to emphasize that this is due to relatively little legislation in this particular area but on regular chapters, closure benchmarks will have to be defined.
"We will be flexible and not going to oppose opening and closure of the science and research chapter on Monday," a French diplomat told yesterday.
The permanent representatives of EU 25 will meet today in Brussels and discuss a common position paper on the "science and research" chapter. EU diplomats are also expected to discuss opening the second chapter of "education and culture," but the insistence by several countries, including France, to include political criteria here makes it difficult for the EU 25 to conclude a common position paper on that.
According to diplomats, another important discussion among EU members on the common position paper on science and research chapter is Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot administration in earlier talks among the EU 25 demanded inclusion of demands on Cyprus from Turkey, but almost all members are against this, EU diplomats said.
ABHaber
Days before the planned EU-Turkey Association Council meeting and Intergovernmental Conference next Monday, EU members continued discussions on a common position paper for the "science and research" chapter, the first of 35 chapters of accession talks that are expected to continue at least 10 years.
France had long opposed closure of the science and research chapter in the same day, claiming that there should be benchmarks, the EU term describing reference conditions, defined for the closure of this chapter. French diplomats earlier raised several issues, including enhancing autonomy of science and research bodies, developing the administrative capacities and examination of compatibility of international agreements in this field to EU law, and sought for them to be defined as closure benchmarks.
But the majority of EU members did hot give support to the French suggestion. That was based mainly on European Commission's earlier report following examination of Turkey's legislation and implementation on this chapter. The Commission did not suggest any closure benchmark.
France argues that the problem is a question of methodology, and according to the agreed "negotiations framework" with Turkey, EU has to define closure benchmarks in each of the 35 chapters. But according to observers, this is more of an attempt to complicate Turkey's EU accession talks, and is for "domestic consumption" in France.
EU enlargement and Turkey's possible membership is a sensitive issue in France and public polls show that the majority of French people oppose it. French politicians are extremely cautious about not being seen as pro-Turkey's EU process, particularly in the runup to next year's presidential elections.
EU diplomats said yesterday that France recently showed flexibility in quick opening and closing of the science and research chapter, but also wanted to emphasize that this is due to relatively little legislation in this particular area but on regular chapters, closure benchmarks will have to be defined.
"We will be flexible and not going to oppose opening and closure of the science and research chapter on Monday," a French diplomat told yesterday.
The permanent representatives of EU 25 will meet today in Brussels and discuss a common position paper on the "science and research" chapter. EU diplomats are also expected to discuss opening the second chapter of "education and culture," but the insistence by several countries, including France, to include political criteria here makes it difficult for the EU 25 to conclude a common position paper on that.
According to diplomats, another important discussion among EU members on the common position paper on science and research chapter is Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot administration in earlier talks among the EU 25 demanded inclusion of demands on Cyprus from Turkey, but almost all members are against this, EU diplomats said.
ABHaber
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