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Europe
Postpone the Brave New World: EU hardens accession conditions
2004-10-05
The European Commission has signalled that it may suspend membership negotiations with Turkey candidate countries if they fail to meet tough EU criteria. The new conditions are set out in an EU panic strategy document as the Commission prepares to recommend the start of membership talks with Turkey. The keenly awaited reports on Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania will be released on Wednesday. Any backtracking on human rights or democracy would delay the negotiations.

The man who will oversee any future negotiations with Turkey, incoming enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn, also made it clear he wanted a permanent mechanism that would prevent large inflows of Turkish workers into the EU. Officials say they support the conclusion that Turkey has made sufficient progress to begin membership talks. But at the same time, the EU will signal a major shift in how it deals with Turkey prospective members. Starting with Croatia next year, membership negotiations will be longer and harder. Promises of reform will no longer be enough to conclude negotiations. According to the strategy paper - seen by the BBC - benchmarks for the implementation of reforms will have to be met. And for the first time, the EU will introduce a brake clause - the possibility to suspend negotiations in the case of a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The EU itself wouldn't pass those tests.
Posted by:Bulldog

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