[January 25, 2006] Enlargement - Press report: Commission drafting "critical" report on Turkey Tweet (EurActiv (English) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Brief News:In its annual monitoring report on Turkey due out on 9 November, the Commission will call for urgent action in the fields of minority and women's rights, the independence of the judiciary, the influence of the military, fighting corruption and freedom of religion. According to theFinancial Times, which claims to have seen the draft report, it is "far from pleasant reading for Ankara". The "critical" report will identify Turkey as a "functioning market economy", the FT says, and it also will welcome Ankara's "uneven progress" in adopting and implementing the EU's acquis. At the same time, it will urge "more concrete achievements for the benefit of all Turkish citizens regardless of their origin". In a related development, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat's recent invitation to Washington was described as "counter-productive" by Tassos Papadopoulos, president of the Republic of Cyprus.Interviewed byLe Mondeon the occasion of his visit to Paris, Papadopoulos also said that it is better for the Republic of Cyprus if Turkey turns toward Europe than if it turns away from the Union. At the same time, Papadopoulos said that Turkey must fully respect its obligations towards the EU as well as towards Cyprus. :Press articles Financial Times:What the EU really thinks of Turkey Le Monde:"Une Turquie oriente vers l'Europe vaut mieux pour nous qu'une Turquie qui lui tournerait le dos" [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]