What decision will emerge from the leaders' summit? Will the green light be given for EU-Turkey rapprochement?
European Union leaders are preparing to give the green light to a 'cautious rapprochement' with Turkey at the summit to be held next week. It was also learned that the draft text emphasizes the Cyprus issue.
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A significant development has occurred in Turkey-EU relations.
According to the report by Metin Kaan Kurtuluş from T24; EU leaders will request that relations between Turkey and Brussels be “advanced in a phased, proportionate, and reversible manner, within the framework of the decisions previously taken by the European Council.”
The phrase “in a reversible manner” in the draft text indicates that if the EU deems a step taken by Turkey during the process to be “wrong,” it could cancel decisions to be made on issues such as the modernization of the customs union and visa facilitation. Similar expressions were also used in the Commission report on EU-Turkey relations, which is also referred to as the “Borrell report” because it was prepared by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and the EU Commission.
"IN A PROPORTIONATE AND REVERSIBLE MANNER..."
Article 9 of the draft text contains the following decision regarding Turkey:
“The European Council held a strategic debate on EU-Turkey relations, taking into account the assessment by the High Representative and the Commission on EU-Turkey political, economic, and trade relations. The European Council invites the Committee of Permanent Representatives to continue work on the joint communication in a phased, proportionate, and reversible manner, in accordance with previous Council conclusions and subject to further guidance from the Council as needed.”
THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS ALSO IN THE DRAFT
In addition to this, the draft text also places special emphasis on the Cyprus issue.
If the final declaration is adopted, the EU will once again demand that the Cyprus issue be resolved within the framework determined by the United Nations and in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.