Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress with regard to the EU accession negotiations with Turkey; the Government's views of the most pressing issue needing to be addressed before accession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10391/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Negotiations regarding Turkish accession to the European Union commenced on 3 October 2005. An extensive screening process is currently ongoing which closely scrutinises the compatibility of Turkish legislation with that of the EU. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters in the accession process. After a chapter has been screened, the EU can decide, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, whether the negotiations in that sector should proceed. In June 2006, the European Council welcomed the provisional closure of the Science and Research chapter with Turkey. To date, this is the only chapter to have been provisionally concluded.

The European Commission published its annual enlargement package on 8 November 2006. In its assessment of Turkey's progress, the Commission states that reforms have continued but have slowed during the past year. Improvements are needed on freedom of expression, the rights of non-Muslim religious communities, women's rights, trade union rights and on civilian control of the military. Further progress in aligning its legislation with that of the Union is also required in a range of areas, among them agriculture; taxation; state aid; and the free movement of goods, workers and capital.

It is difficult to prioritise particular issues, as all of the points identified in the Commission report require Turkey's active attention. However, it is clear that Turkey's continuing failure to implement the Ankara Protocol fully by opening its ports and airports to vessels registered in the Republic of Cyprus is complicating the accession negotiations. As a result, the Council of Ministers, on 11 December 2006, acting on a recommendation from the Commission, decided that negotiations on eight negotiating chapters be suspended and, secondly, that no other chapter be provisionally closed until the Commission has verified that Turkey has implemented the Protocol.

The Commission will report further on Turkish progress towards meeting its obligations, including implementation of the Ankara Protocol, in its annual reports to the Council, in particular in 2007, 2008 and 2009.