ABSTRACT

Apart from the Copenhagen economic and political criteria, the Negotiating Framework (Council of the European Communities 2006a) requires from Turkey the following:

Turkey’s unequivocal commitment to good neighbourly relations and its • undertaking to resolve any border disputes in conformity with the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter; including, if necessary, jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Turkey’s continued support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement • of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded, including steps to contribute to a favourable climate for a comprehensive settlement, and progress in the normalization of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including Cyprus. The fullment of Turkey’s obligations under the Association Agreement and • its Additional Protocol extending the Association Agreement to all new EU member states, in particular those pertaining to the EU-Turkey Customs Union, as well as the implementation of the Accession Partnership, as regularly revised. Moreover, in the Negotiating Framework there is one nal condition: • enlargement should strengthen the process of continuous creation and integration in which the Union and its member states are engaged. Every effort should be made to protect the cohesion and effectiveness of the Union. In accordance with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, the Union’s capacity to absorb Turkey, while maintaining the momentum of European integration is an important consideration in the general interest of both the Union and Turkey. The Commission will have to report to the European Council in order to ascertain whether this condition has been met.