"No mend in sight for the Turkey-EU estrangement
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 12:27pm
By Wolfango Piccoli
Later this week, the European Council will press Turkey's government to reconsider its refusal to give Greek Cypriot vessels access to its air and sea ports under a customs union pact with the bloc. While this may cause some tension, Turkey's EU membership talks won't be formally suspended or further complicated by tougher measures. EU leaders are wary about aggravating tension and undermining U.N.-sponsored peace talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities aimed at ending the island's 35-year partition. Plus, there's no need for the EU to take more action against Ankara. The process of accession negotiations has almost completely lost its momentum, and it certainly won't get a jumpstart in 2010, given the adverse political circumstances prevailing in both Turkey and the EU. If the prevailing mutual disinterest between Turkey and the EU persists, Ankara's accession talks will inevitably run to a halt, raising the risk of a more definite split between Turkey and the EU next year."
More:Turkey's accession to the EU could hinge on Cyprus relations- By Wolfango Piccoli | The Call
