| | | | However, the report, which was passed by 50 votes to 18, said that Turkey’s accession talks were conditional on Ankara continuing to implement reforms to bring its laws and regulations into line with those of the EU. The original report was altered to so that the EU reserved the right to shelve the negotiations in case the reforms process stalled.
The report also underlined that Ankara, by starting the negotiation process, would commit to officially recognising the Greek Cypriot Administration.
Eurlings’ report also touched on the issue of religious minorities, calling for additional rights to be granted to the Muslim Alawite sect and Orthodox Christians and for places of worship of the Alawites to be given legal status.
The report is to be voted on by the EP ahead of the EU leaders’ December 17 summit but does not have any binding status. However, it is expected to have an influence on the leaders who are to decide on whether a date should be set to open accession talks with Turkey. | |
