The reference to the need for an alternative to accession for Turkey was cited by Cypriot MEPs as the reason for their abstention during the vote on the European Parliament's progress report on Turkey which was held on Wednesday. MEPs also cited references to the Parliament's support for a potential upgraded Customs Union, with some citing the language as problematic and references to the need that the RoC facilitate EU cooperation with the Turkish Cypriot community. This year's report (adopted by 434 votes in favour, 18 against and 152 abstentions) was one of the most severe on Turkey, noting among other things that the accession process cannot continue under the current circumstances, and that alternative ways of cooperation should be sought, while also condemning the Pyla incident following an amendment by Cypriot MEPs. Regarding the Cyprus problem, the Parliament calls on Turkey to abandon its pro-two-state solution stance and underlines that the only viable solution remains a bizonal bicommunal federation as defined by the United Nations, and calls again on Turkey to revoke its actions in Varosha, but also to give the T/C community the space to act as a legitimate community according to the Republic of Cyprus constitution, condemning also attempts to intimidate and muzzle T/C journalists. Speaking to CNA, Left MEP George Georgiou (AKEL), one of the shadow rapporteurs of the report on behalf of the Left, noted that "although positive in its assessment of Turkey's unacceptable internal political situation', the report 'limits its criticism to Turkey's actions in its relations with neighbouring states and the region in general". "Our abstention was mainly prompted by a reference to paragraph 36, which essentially cancels the prospect of Turkey's accession to the EU, offering it a special relationship through which Turkey will reap gains (upgrading the customs union, visas and others) without committing itself to certain obligations (Cyprus, rule of law, Copenhagen criteria and so on)," he explained. From the EPP, Loukas Fourlas (DISY) said that this is a text "with very harsh references to Turkey with commonly accepted findings that no progress has been achieved in all areas of relations with the EU". "The report records Turkey's provocation with regard to Cyprus using harsh language, but also regarding human rights and the freedoms of Turkish citizens", while also recording the country's regression when it comes to the rule of law, he added. "Instead of discussing how Turkey has to comply and implement its commitments, they insist on repeating references to a special relationship through the Customs Union and visa (liberalisation) even under conditionality. Also controversial is paragraph 34 which leaves shadows in how the Commission will approach the Turkish Cypriot community", he concluded, explaining that "this is what led us to abstain". It is recalled that Fourlas as well as EPP MEP Eleni Stavrou had told CNA on Tuesday that they intended to abstain due to the fact that the point they referred to could not be changed. Left MEP Niyazi Kiziliyurek (AKEL) told CNA that the main reason for his abstention was that "the report contains a recommendation that the accession process should not continue and for a special relationship with Turkey", which, he said, "does not benefit the efforts for the reunification of Cyprus at all". He added that this report "sabotages the democratisation process" in Turkey, as the country would not be obliged to move forward with reforms, and pointed out that it is also "geopolitically problematic for the EU to get Turkey off the accession path", noting that this is a merit based process. He also expressed his disagreement with the amendment proposal tabled by the far-right group Identity and Democracy (ID) for the complete abolition of Turkey's accession path. Social-democrat MEP Costas Mavrides (DIKO) pointed out that "given so many findings of violations of fundamental human rights and the transformation of the judiciary into a tool in the hands of the Erdogan regime and with violations of international and European law in the Eastern Mediterranean, the report does not propose compliance measures, but the opening of negotiations to upgrade the EU - Turkey Customs Union without fulfilling Turkey's European legal obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus". Also, the other S and D MEP Demetris Papadakis (elected with the EDEK) noted that "the report contained elements that did not satisfy us", referring in particular to "the reference to the termination of accession talks and a special relationship' without further clarifications, as well as for the fact that a reference "to an arms sales embargo on Turkey as it existed last year" was not included.
Source: Cyprus News Agency