The future enlargement of the European Union, particularly Turkey and Croatia’s bid for membership, will be the main topic discussed during the European Council meeting being held today and tomorrow in Brussels.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, accompanied by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, leave this morning for Brussels to attend the last meeting under Finland’s EU Presidency.
Tomorrow morning, the Prime Minister will also have a one-on-one meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Over the next two days, the heads of State or government are expected to base their discussions on the enlargement strategy that was approved by the Commission last month and the special report that examines the EU’s capacity to integrate new members.
The objective will be to consolidate the consensus among the member states on how to proceed with the enlargement process.
This meeting is of particular significance because heads of government of the 25 EU member states will welcome the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU. Both countries will be joining the EU on 1 January 2007 and this will conclude the EU’s fifth round of enlargement.
Turkey’s membership of the EU will undoubtedly be discussed and the Council will be taking stock of the accession negotiations on the basis of the outcome of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held this week.
On Monday, the EU froze eight of 35 negotiating “chapters” in Turkey’s entry negotiations – relating to transport and trade with Cyprus – thereby putting Ankara’s membership talks, already due to last at least a decade, on a low simmer.
The foreign ministers’ partial freeze decision – a surprise after weeks of division over the issue – filled EU capitals with a sense of relief after weeks of worry the year-end summit would become overshadowed by the dispute with Ankara over trading with Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government Turkey does not recognise.
Turkey yesterday criticised the European Union for bowing to Greek Cypriot pressure and being hesitant to take bolder steps on the Cyprus standoff.
Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government in the south of the divided island, and Turkey is the only country to recognise the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north.
The Mediterranean island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey invaded to stop a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan that Turkish Cypriots supported.
During the year-end summit, the Council will also focus on justice and home affairs as the second main theme. Heads of government are expected to discuss ways of improving EU decision-making and action in the area of freedom, security and justice. The goal will be to enhance the member states’ commitment to more effective decision-making on justice and home affairs.
Of particular interest to Malta is the EU’s immigration policy and the aim is to strengthen the overall approach to immigration and agree on concrete measures to be taken in 2007.
Other items on the agenda will be talks concerning the future of the Constitutional Treaty, policies on innovation and energy, climate change and key external relations issues.