The European Union called Tuesday on Turkey to respect the sovereignty of Member States over their territorial waters and to fully and effectively implement in all Member States the Readmission Agreement on illegal immigrants signed with the Union.
According to the conclusions of the EU General Affairs Council on the enlargement, Turkey is expected to “actively contribute” in a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, in the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded The contribution of Turkey, in certain ways, to such a comprehensive settlement is crucial.
The Council recalls its Conclusions of 2006 and the Declaration of 21 September 2005, ” noting with deep disappointment that Turkey, despite repeated calls, continues refusing full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to all Member States . The EU notes that if there is no progress, it will maintain the measures taken by Turkey in 2006. The measures concern freezing of eight chapters in accessions negotiation with Turkey and prohibiting the closing of the remaining 34 chapters.
The Council also notes that Turkey has not taken steps towards normalization of relations with Cyprus.
The EU stresses again all the sovereign rights of Member States, including, inter alia, entering into bilateral agreements, exploration and exploitation of their natural resources in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the law of the Sea and also stresses the need to respect the sovereignty of Member States over their territorial waters
EU urges Ankara to avoid any kind of threat or action directed against a Member State, or sources of friction or actions which could damage good neighborly relations.
The EU welcomes the signing of the Readmission Agreement on illegal immigrants between EU and Turkey, noting that it expects that Turkey will fully and effectively apply it to all Member States
