BRUSSELS, Oct 14 — Croatia could wrap up entry talks with the European Union next year but other hopefuls including Turkey have a lot more to do, the bloc’s executive arm said today.
An annual progress report by the European Commission criticised would-be members over corruption, weak courts and other shortcomings, making it clear it will take many years before the bulk of them can join the now 27-country EU.
“If Croatia meets all outstanding benchmarks in time, the accession negotiations could be concluded next year,” the Commission said in a statement.
It said Turkey needed to step up political and economic reforms, improve the rights of minorities, women and trade unions as well as normalising relations with the Republic of Cyprus.
“Turkey has shown renewed political reform efforts. Progress with its accession negotiations hinges on this momentum, especially the consolidation of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.
The report urged Turkey to treat media group Dogan Yayin fairly in a tax dispute as the issue may affect freedom of the press in the country.
The Commission said other EU hopefuls — Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosovo — were making uneven progress towards membership, although Serbia had a strong administrative ability to push ahead with reforms.
The report gives no entry date for Croatia. Diplomats say the former Yugoslav state of 4.4 million could become the EU’s 28th member in 2012 after ratification of its accession treaty. But before Croatia can wrap up entry talks, it still needs to improve its fight against corruption and organised crime, boost its judicial system and increase cooperation with the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Croatia’s accession was made possible after it settled this month a border dispute with EU member Slovenia, which had frozen the entry talks for a year.
Ireland’s approval of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty in a referendum this month also gave enlargement a boost as the charter overhauls the bloc’s complex voting system, making room for new members.
But there is little appetite for further enlargement among EU member states amid the economic crisis and following the bloc’s costly expansion since 2004 to take in 12, mostly ex-communist countries from central and eastern Europe.
The French government opposes Turkey’s full membership and Germany has doubts, but the Commission says the Muslim country can make progress towards accession if it boosts reforms.
The report urges Turkey to move towards normalisation of ties with Cyprus. Turkey started EU entry talks in 2005 along with Croatia but they stalled, partly over Ankara’s refusal to normalise relations with EU member Cyprus. — Reuters
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