§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any proposals have been made for Turkey to obtain full membership of the EEC.
§ Mr. RifkindThere has been no application or proposal for Turkish membership of the EEC.
§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship of Turkey with the EEC.
§ Mr. RifkindThe 1983 European Community-Turkey association agreement forms the basis for the economic relations between Turkey and the Community. Apart from its provisions relation to trade and other forms of cooperation, the Agreement has, through a series of separate financial protocols, provided for substantial Community development aid to Turkey. This aid has been suspended since 1980, as a result of concern among member states about political developments in Turkey and human rights.
Following the return to civilian government in Turkey there has been some improvement in the atmosphere of European Community-Turkey relations; the Foreign Minister, Mr. Halefoglu, had talks with the Commission in January. We, together with most other member states believe that the time has come for the European Community to move towards a more normal relationship with Turkey, starting with the unblocking of some of the outstanding aid suspended in 1980 on a step by step basis and in line with political developments in Turkey. Not all member states however, have yet agreed to this.