The European Parliament (EP) 2011 Report on Turkey, drafted by Dutch Christian Democrat Ms. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, has been voted and adopted today (9 March) at the Plenary Session in Strasbourg.

Assessments of the EU institutions regarding candidate countries should be conducive to furthering the accession process and encouraging the candidate country, while also drawing attention to the requirements to be met during the accession process. However, the report on Turkey, adopted at the EP Plenary Session today, while partially referring to the positive steps taken in the field of reforms in our country, essentially takes a one-sided stance and includes elements that do not correspond to the realities and hence are not acceptable to us.

As a negotiating candidate country, Turkey expects the EP, being the representative of the peoples of Europe and the voice of the EU public opinions, to be fair and objective and to demonstrate a serious attitude in line with its mandate.

We see that some issues are included in the Report by domestic political considerations of a limited number of MEPs representing certain Member States at the risk of disregarding the EU’s interests. It is not possible to set this approach on a wise and rational context given the historical background of Turkey-EU relations, the values, interests and goals that Turkey and the EU share as well as the level that our relations have reached today.

The documents and reports that are published by the EP will only have a meaning for Turkey if a serious, constructive and unbiased attitude is adopted.

No one should doubt that we will continue to claim our acquired rights and advance with resolve towards our goal of accession to the EU.