Postponement of Turkey vote 'stupid, short-sighted and mean-spirited'

1.21.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Sep 2005

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe attacked the decision of the European Parliament to postpone the decision to extend the customs union to the ten new member states.

But putting off the vote has serious political ramifications. It weakens the negotiating position of the Commission and Council and will harden the position of the Turkish government. It sows distrust between the two sides, and delays the possibility of relaxing the financial and trade embargo against Turkish North Cyprus.

Andrew Duff, ALDE Vice-President of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, said:

"The decision of the Parliament does not affect the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October. However, it was stupid, short-sighted and mean-spirited. MEPs have shot themselves in the foot.

"Even those MEPs who advocate a 'privileged partnership' with Turkey rather than full membership will have in the end to agree to the extension of the customs union. Without trade there will be no partnership of any sort, at all."

Duff, who led for the Liberal group in the negotiations on Turkey, added that he was amazed that "so many of those who have been brought prosperity, security and liberal democracy by way of European integration should now seek to deny these benefits to Turks".