Turkey and the EC (Hansard, 12 July 1988)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)
My Lords, it would not be appropriate to comment on Turkey's application for membership of the EC while the European Commission is still preparing its Opinion.

§ The Marquess of Tweeddale
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, with some reservations, for that not very illuminating answer. Perhaps I may take the opportunity to say that when I put the Question down on the Order Paper I was totally unaware that the Turkish President was to be in London today. Is not the concept of Turkey joining a European Community a contradiction in terms?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, of course we greatly welcome President Evren's visit, which is a sign of the close and friendly relations between our two countries. I hope that the noble Marquess will recognise that it is an essential first step for the Commission to make the necessary thorough examination of economic and other factors and then submit a formal Opinion to the Council of Ministers. The United Kingdom will need to study that before forming a final view.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, does the noble Lord not agree that two factors stand in the way of Turkey's entry into the Community, namely her human rights record, which is very much less than satisfactory, and the Cyprus problem? Can he confirm to the House that those two subjects will be discussed between the Prime Minister and the Turkish President during his visit this week?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I cannot anticipate what my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and the President of Turkey will discuss when they meet. So far as concerns Turkey's human rights record. I am quite sure that Turkey is aware of the member states' views on this. Turkey has made significant progress in areas of political and human rights.
In relation to Cyprus, of course the priority is that the two communities in Cyprus should resume negotiations towards a comprehensive settlement. Therefore we support the new proposals of the United Nations Secretary-General for an early meeting between President Vassiliou and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, leading to immediate resumption.

§ Lord Jenkins of Hillhead
My Lords, will the Minister bear in mind that, while we greatly welcome the Turkish state visit today and recognise the importance of Turkey as a bastion of NATO. there is nonetheless room for considerable caution about her membership of the European Community? Does he not recognise that, when the European Commission—to which he attaches omniscience almost with bated breath—was considering the Spanish and Portuguese applications, it was accepted that there were three criteria which ought to be fulfilled: the desire to join the Community, to be a democracy and to be a European country? Does he not agree that there is room for doubt as to how many of those three qualifications are fulfilled by Turkey?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I hear what the noble Lord says. The EC/Turkey Association Agreement and the Treaty of Rome both give Turkey the right to apply for membership. The Treaty of Rome lays down procedures, and those procedures are being followed.

Lord Morris
My Lords, arising from the points made by the noble Lord the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and the noble Lord the leader of one of the acronymic parties, does my noble friend not agree that those two points have never stopped Turkey from being an active and very useful member of the Council of Europe? Does he also agree that there is absolutely no reason why she should not apply for membership of the EC?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, my noble friend puts his finger on the point which I think that I made in response to the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins of Hillhead. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made clear during her recent visit to Turkey, the United Kingdom greatly values all links with Turkey, including those through the European Community. and wishes to make fullest use of the association agreement.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, can the Minister confirm my impression that, although the Soviet Union is occupying Afghanistan, and Israel, with American support, is occupying territory of several neighbouring countries, there is no member of the European Community which occupies two fifths of a 712 neighbouring country by virtue of invasion and an army of occupation as does Turkey in Cyprus?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I am quite sure that we do not wish to enter into a discussion about Cyprus, which is not particularly relevant to the Question on the Order Paper. So far as concerns the association agreement and the Treaty of Rome, both give Turkey the right to apply for EC membership, and that is what she has done.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, is the Minister aware of the treatment of children and young people in Turkey? Is he aware that vast numbers of children and young people are held in gaols there in the most appalling conditions? Is it right that a country with such deplorably low standards should he a partner in the European Community?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, there has been a recent report. the Defence for Children International Report, which contains serious allegations that we are still studying.