"Sarkozy in U-turn over Turkey referendum
Barroso and Rehn due in Turkey
Two top executives of the European Union will visit Turkey in the following week. European Commission's President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn will be in Turkey from April 10th to 12th, a statement of the commission said Tuesday."
Sarkozy in U-turn over Turkey referendum
Referenda linked to future EU enlargements will no longer be compulsory in France under a draft law amending the Constitution to be adopted in July. The move primarily aims to allow Croatia to join the bloc next year but also clears the way for Turkey's accession bid, EurActiv France reports.
Opening of Cyprus checkpoint breeds reunification hopes
Hopes of an historic reconciliation and reunification of the divided island were raised on Thursday (April 3) by the opening of a crossing in an ancient shopping street in the Cypriot capital for the first time in more than 40 years.EU to 'wait and see' on Serbia, Turkey accession
European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said he was adopting a "wait-and-see" attitude towards EU hopefuls Serbia and Turkey in light of recent developments in the two countries.Symbolic Cyprus crossing closed
A crossing in the divided city of Nicosia is reopened, then closed hours later as a policing dispute flares.Hundreds gather for reopening of divided Cyprus street | World news | guardian.co.uk
Reuniting Cyprus - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
Turkey is not ready for Europe - Turquie Européenne
EU voices renewed concern on closure case
The European Union voiced renewed concern after Turkey's highest court agreed to hear a case to shut down the ruling party and bar the prime minister from politics for alleged IslamistThe End of the EU Road for Turkey?
Excerpts from a news article:
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn repeated a strong warning that the Constitutional Court’s decision to hear the case for closure of Turkey’s ruling party exposed a “systemic error” in Turkey’s Constitution and announced that he would brief the EU Commission on the case on Wednesday, underlining the seriousness with which the case is seen in Brussels. Under the negotiating framework agreed upon in 2004, the commission can recommend suspending the accession negotiations in the event of a “serious and persistent breach in Turkey of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.” Rehn’s warning that the accession negotiations might be at stake appeared to enjoy widespread backing from the European Parliament Members.
Turkey lost 2008 - how about saving EU and democracy?
Cengiz ÇANDAREuropean court's ruling stirs Greek nationalism
A Greek member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) was slammed in a Greek newspaper Sunday for voting in favor of the “Turkish Association of Xanthi,” and the “Union of TurkisTurks need a calmer approach to counter Armenian claims
Justin PAULRéférendum sur la Turquie : Sarkozy veut retrouver sa liberté de manoeuvre
Les Echos, 31 mars 2008, p. 10Catherine CHatignoux
Nicolas Sarkozy a clairement tranché en faveur de la suppression du recours systématique au référendum pour les futures adhésions à l’Union européenne. La réforme est prévue dans le texte qui a été transmis au Conseil d’Etat.
Rehn highlights a bitter truth about Turkey’s EU adventure
The risks that a possible Justice and Development Party (AK Party) closure case poses for Turkey are brought forward by not only political and intellectual figures from Turkey but also by those from Europe.Joost Lagendijk stops.
Joost Lagendijk, member of the European Parliament for the Dutch Greens and co-chairman of the delegation of the Joint EU-Turkey Parliamentary Committee, will not return in the European parliament after the EU elections in 2009. He decided to stop after 10 intensive years.Joost Lagendijk made tremendous efforts to help Turkey on its path towards EU membership.
In his last article for Today's Zaman he harshly criticised the current developments in Turkey.
