Turkey is set to stay in the waiting room for now as the European Union in its annual report reiterated that more reforms were needed, while Balkan states will see more opportunities opening in coming months. Releasing progress reports on countries aspiring to EU membership, the European Commission said: “Turkey’s geo-strategic position gives the country a vital role in the EU’s energy security, particularly diversification of energy sources. Closer energy cooperation between the EU (and) Turkey ... is essential.” Nevertheless, “a new impetus now needs to be given to reform, in order to strengthen democracy and human rights, modernise and develop the country and bring it closer to the EU,” the report said.

“The year 2008 was marked by strong political tensions in domestic politics. Constitutional court cases highlight the need for an urgent revision of rules governing political parties and also for wider constitutional reform,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told journalists.

“The country has every chance to make 2009 an important year in its accession progress by accelerating the momentum of legal and democratic reforms,” he said. Refusing to name a date for the completion of Turkey’s accession talks, Rehn said, “The key to make progress is not for politicians to ask for a date. The key is indeed to sit down and agree on reforms in the government, in the parliament, and encourage administration to implement these reforms seriously.” Turkey’s perceived weakness in fighting organised crime is also a “serious concern,” the Commission report said.

And Turkey’s policy of vetoing the entry of EU member Cyprus into international organisations, and its refusal to let NATO, of which it is a member, cooperate fully with the EU because of its dispute with Cyprus, “created problems for EUNATO co-operation.” “We expect Turkey will contribute to a favourable climate for a comprehensive settlement on the reunification of Cyprus. 2009 should be a decisive year,” Rehn said.

Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999 and opened formal talks on accession in 2005, but officials in Brussels say that its progress has been limited, especially under the impact of the summer’s power struggle between the ruling AKP party and the country’s secularist elite. There was, however, pieces of praise showered on Turkey, still considered an outsider in the enlargement process as the report noted, “Turkey has enhanced its positive role of regional stabilisation, in particular as regards the Caucasus and the Middle East ... Turkey is contributing substantially to (EU security missions) and seeking greater involvement in (such) activities.” And Turkey’s importance as a transit country for natural gas was acknowledged as the report stressed that “the Turkish authorities have repeatedly confirmed their commitment to the realization of the (Nabucco) project” for bringing Azeri gas to the EU, bypassing Russia.

CROATIA GETS NOD
The European Commission gave a conditional green light to Croatia’s membership while offering Serbia a chance of possible candidacy. “Croatia is expected to reach the final phase of accession negotiations by the end of 2009 if it has taken the necessary preparatory steps,” the Commission said in an annual report on the former Yugoslav republic’s progress towards membership. It is the first time that the EU’s Brussels-based executive has set out a timetable for Croatia to become the EU’s 28th member since the Adriatic state became a candidate in 2004. But Commissioner Rehn insisted that the timetable was not a “blank cheque” for membership, and that the government in Zagreb would have to speed up reforms in key areas such as shipbuilding and the judiciary. “The timetable is indicative and may have to be adapted ... The ball is firmly in Croatia’s court,” he underlined.

If Croatia manages to bring its legislation into line with EU norms in 35 areas - the so-called “chapters” - by the end of 2009, it will be able to join the EU once all current member states have approved its entry, a process which usually takes some 18 months. But that may not be easy, as leading states including France and Germany have said that there can be no further enlargement until the bloc ratifies the Lisbon Treaty - a process brought to an abrupt halt by an Irish referendum on June 12. “I hope that (the Lisbon issue) will not be used as an argument to slow down the accession process of such countries as Croatia, which is overall making good progress,” Rehn said.

CONDITIONS FOR SERBIA
The Commission meeting also held out the hope for Serbia, with Rehn saying that “under the best possible scenario, Serbia may still be able to obtain candidate status in 2009.” However, any such move would depend on Belgrade’s ability to prove that it is doing its utmost to catch the last remaining war-crimes suspects, he stressed.

FYROM’s YELLOW CARD
The report had stern words for the third current candidate for EU membership, FYROM, which in the summer held parliamentary elections marred by serious violence. “Violent incidents and serious irregularities marred parliamentary elections. A constructive political dialogue and decisive action are needed to implement reforms,” it said.

BALKAN REFORMS
Of the other states of the former Yugoslavia, Montenegro must work much harder to improve its law and justice system, while Bosnia-Herzegovina has yet to prove that it is capable of implementing major EU-related reforms, the report said. The EU will provide funding to help small and medium companies in the Balkans weather the current financial storm, Rehn concluded.