Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on present relations between Turkey and the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. RifkindThe 1963 European Community/Turkey Association Agreement forms the basis for economic relations between Turkey and the Community. Apart from its provisions relating to trade and other forms of cooperation, the Agreement has, through a series of separate financial protocols, provided substantial Community development aid to Turkey. This aid was suspended in 1980 as a result of concern among member states about political developments in Turkey.
We, together with most other member states, believe that the Community should revert to a more normal relationship with Turkey, starting with the unblocking on a step-by-step basis on some of the outstanding aid suspended in 1980. This would reflect the progress Turkey has made since then in restoring democracy and give encouragement to the efforts now being made to improve human rights.