Barroso: Turkey must fulfil the EU's entry conditions

Two weeks before a report on whether
or not the EU should start entry talks with Turkey,
Commission President designate Barroso has warned the
candidate country that it must continue to make progress
in adopting the EU’s accession criteria.

Commission President designate Jose Manuel Durao
Barroso has said in an interview with Le Monde that
although Turkey has made great progress, it has not yet met
the criteria to start entry talks. Barroso said he was
in favour of Turkey’s EU entry if it fulfils all the
criteria set by the European Union. « It is Turkey that has
to adapt to the rules of Europe and not Europe to the rules
of Turkey, » Barroso said.

On 6 October, the current Commission is scheduled
to publish a report with a set of recommendations on
whether to start negotiations with the country. Turkey has
recently announced a reform of its penal code which
includes a new legislative proposal to criminalise
adultery. On 18 September, Enlargement Commissioner
Günter Verheugen requested clarification from the
Turkish ambassador on the proposed new law.

Barroso, who is due to begin his term as
Commission President on 1 November, added that it was
« inconceivable » that Turkish accession would change
the essence of the European Union although the size of
the country will pose new challenges, rather then the
religious question. However, Barroso thought this « should
not be a problem if the aspects of democratic order are
strictly followed, including the penal code ». He added that
« if Turkey responded positively to the EUs demands, I
dont see how we could say no.

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is
scheduled to hold talks with the Commission in Brussels on
23 September.