UK-Turkey Relations and Turkey's Regional Role

HC 1567, Twelfth Report of Session 2010-12 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £23.00

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The report 'UK-Turkey Relations and Turkey's Regional Role (HC 1567)' concludes that the Government is right to continue to support Turkey's accession to the European Union, as long as Ankara meets the accession criteria, and subject to the Government imposing restrictions on the right to free movement from Turkey after it joins.

However, shortcomings in Turkey's justice system are currently leading to human rights abuses, including rights to freedom of expression within the media, which make it harder to advocate Turkey's EU membership.

Turkey's EU accession process is effectively hostage to the Cyprus dispute. The Committee comments that by undermining the force of EU leverage, the stalemate is having consequences that are detrimental to UK objectives in Turkey across a range of fields, which also include energy and market access issues. The Committee found this especially regrettable given that Turkish democracy may be in a critical phase, and given the influence that Turkey may have at the moment over reforming Arab states.

The Committee also advised that by creating uncertainty over the timing of Turkey's EU accession, the stalemate was discouraging both the EU and Turkey from starting to address some of the most difficult issues that would be involved in Turkey's EU membership.

The Government's continuing support for Turkey's EU membership has provided a strong basis for the further development of UK-Turkey bilateral relations, which has significant potential for UK foreign policy.

Extent	134 pages	ISBN	9780215043627
Size	A4	Price	£23.00
Format	Paperback	Published	04 Apr 2012
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges