Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 299: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a comprehensive statement detailing Ireland's position on Turkey's continued refusal to implement its obligations under the Additional Protocol in a non-discriminatory manner to the Republic of Cyprus as one of the ten new Member States; if he has raised with Turkey its refusal to give access to Cypriot interest vessels and planes at its ports and airports and its policy of vetoing membership of the Republic of Cyprus to international organisations; if he also raised Turkey's refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and the need for it to urgently take steps for the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus; and if he will present an update. [26900/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to my reply of 29 June 2006 to question number 12 on this matter.

On 29 July 2005, as part of the preparations for the opening of Turkey-EU accession negotiations and in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, Turkey signed the Ankara Agreement Protocol to take account of the accession of the new Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, however, Turkey also issued a Declaration stating that its signature, ratification and implementation of the Protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

In response to the Declaration, on 21 September 2005 the EU issued a Counter-Declaration recalling the status of the Republic of Cyprus as a Member State of the EU. The Counter-Declaration noted that recognition of all Member States, including, of course, Cyprus, is a necessary component of the accession process and underlined the importance the Union attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all Member States.

The European Council at its meeting on 15/16 June last recalled the need for Turkey to fulfil its obligations under the Association Agreement and its Additional Protocol. Turkey's progress in fulfilling these obligations, which include the need to recognise the economic, maritime and navigational rights of all EU Member States, as well as its implementation of the revised Accession Partnership, will be evaluated later this year. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has stated that failure by Turkey to implement its obligations in full will affect its overall progress in the negotiations.