ENLARGEMENT

ABHaber
December 14, 2007

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Council Conclusions on enlargement
2840th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting Brussels, 10 December 2007
The Council adopted the following conclusions: "ENLARGEMENT STRATEGY
In line with the enlargement strategy agreed by the December 2006
European Council and the Council conclusions of 11 December 2006, the
Council welcomes the Commission's communication on the enlargement
strategy and main challenges 2007-2008 of 6 November and takes

ENLARGEMENT – Council conclusions

The Council held an exchange of views and adopted the following conclusions:

"ENLARGEMENT STRATEGY

In line with the enlargement strategy agreed by the December 2006
European Council and the Council conclusions of 11 December 2006, the
Council welcomes the Commission's communication on the enlargement
strategy and main challenges 2007-2008 of 6 November and takes good
note of the analysis and recommendations contained therein. The
renewed consensus on enlargement, which is based on consolidation of
commitments, fair and rigorous conditionality and better
communication, together with the capacity to integrate new members,
continues to form the basis of the EU's enlargement strategy. An
improved quality of the enlargement process will ensure that
enlargement continues to foster peace, democracy and stability
throughout the continent and to bring concrete benefits in terms of
increased trade, investment and economic growth. Next year is crucial
to further consolidate and implement the EU's enlargement strategy and
support the transition process in the Western Balkans. The Council
recalls various proposals made on this issue and that the future of
the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. Against this
background, the consistent implementation of the renewed consensus is
more important than ever.

The Council reaffirms that the pace of the negotiations depends
notably on the negotiating countries' progress in addressing opening
and closing benchmarks as well as the requirements of the Negotiating
Frameworks, including the implementation of the Accession
Partnerships, currently in course of revision, with each country being
judged on its own merits. The Council recalls that chapters for which
technical preparations have been completed will be opened in
accordance with established procedures, in line with the Negotiating
Frameworks. In this context, the Council looks forward to the
Intergovernmental Conferences with Turkey and Croatia later this
month. It is also essential that the enlargement policy maintains fair
and rigorous conditionality at all stages of the negotiations. In this
regard the Council welcomes the Commission's intention to continue
enhancing the quality of the enlargement process by tackling key
priorities in areas of public administration and judicial reform and
the fight against corruption at an early stage, by making full use of
benchmarks and impact studies, and by bringing more transparency into
the process. This will be instrumental for ensuring broad and
sustained public support for the enlargement process.

Turkey
The Council welcomes the resolution of the political and
constitutional crisis in Turkey earlier this year. The outcome of the
crisis strengthened democracy. The conduct of the recent parliamentary
and presidential elections in full respect of democratic standards and
the rule of law, the high voter turnout and the broader representation
in the new Parliament demonstrate the wish of the Turkish people for
democracy, stability and progress. This is a decisive moment to renew
and intensify the reform process and the Union will continue to assist
Turkey in this regard.

The Council regrets the limited progress achieved in political reform
in Turkey in 2007 but welcomes the Turkish government's declared
intention and renewed commitment to continue the reform process and
address the existing shortcomings. It looks forward to see these
commitments soon translated into real and tangible actions.

The Council notes the process under way to revise the Constitution.
This will constitute a key opportunity to fully enshrine the European
standards in the Turkish constitutional law. Nevertheless, the Council
stresses that this process should not delay long awaited reforms, in
particular in the key areas of freedom of expression and freedom of
religion where Turkey needs to proceed without delay.

Significant further efforts are also needed in other areas such as
judicial reform, the fight against corruption, minority rights and the
strengthening of cultural rights, women's rights, children's rights,
trade union rights and the civilian control of the military. As
regards the East and Southeast, the Council recalls the need to
promptly develop and implement a comprehensive strategy that will
guarantee the economic, social and cultural development of this area.

The Council condemns all terrorist attacks and violence in Turkish
territory and expresses its solidarity with the people of Turkey as
well as its support for Turkey's efforts to protect its population and
fight terrorism, while respecting human rights, fundamental freedoms
and international law and preserving regional peace and stability.

In line with the Negotiating Framework and previous European Council
and Council conclusions, Turkey needs to unequivocally commit to good
neighbourly relations and to the peaceful settlement of disputes in
accordance with the United Nations Charter, including, if necessary,
jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. In this context,
any threat or action which could negatively affect good neighbourly
relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes should be avoided.

Recalling its conclusions of 11 December 2006, the Council notes with
regret that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligation of full
non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the
Association Agreement and has not made progress towards normalisation
of relations with the Republic of Cyprus. The Council will continue to
follow up and review progress made on the issues covered by the
declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21
September 2005 in accordance with its conclusions of 11 December 2006.
Swift progress on these issues is expected.

Recalling the Negotiating Framework, the Council also expects Turkey
to actively support efforts to implement the agreed 8th of July
process leading to a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus
problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on
which the Union is founded including concrete steps to contribute to a
favourable climate for such a comprehensive settlement.

Croatia
The Council commends Croatia for the overall progress it continued to
make in the past year, which allowed the country to enter an
increasingly important and demanding stage. Negotiations are on the
right track. This also demonstrates to the Western Balkan region as a
whole that the perspective of EU membership is tangible. Increased
attention must be given to further transpose and implement effectively
the acquis, in order to be able to meet the obligations of membership
in good time.

Further sustained efforts are required in a number of areas. Croatia
needs to build on its achievements and implementing record and to make
further progress particularly in judicial and administrative reforms,
the fight against corruption, economic reforms, minority rights and
refugee return. Full cooperation with the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) must be continued and
further improvements are needed to ensure that the prosecution and
trial of war crimes in Croatia itself is carried out, without ethnic
bias.

The fulfilment of the obligations under the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement remains crucial. It is also essential that
Croatia continues its efforts towards good neighbourly relations,
including work to find satisfactory solutions to pending bilateral
issues with neighbouring countries, especially as regards border
issues. The Council also calls on Croatia to fully respect the 4 June
2004 agreement concerning the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone
referred to in the June 2004 European Council conclusions and the
Negotiating Framework and not to apply any aspect of the Zone to the
EU Member States until a common agreement in the EU spirit is found."