Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID4381
2004-11-16 11:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN SUPPORTS TURKISH EU ACCESSION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004381
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014
TAGS: ECIN PREL EU TU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS TURKISH EU ACCESSION
REF: STATE 240286
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004381
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014
TAGS: ECIN PREL EU TU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS TURKISH EU ACCESSION
REF: STATE 240286
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Spain supports Turkish EU candidacy, a policy that
has remained consistent through both the Popular Party
administration of Jose Maria Aznar and the current Socialist
administration of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. MFA EU
Correspondent Luis Canovas del Castillo told Poloff November
15 that Spain has always seen Turkey's entry into the EU as a
positive development. The EU has been expanding northward
and eastward, and the GOS would welcome balance in EU
expansion with another Mediterranean voice. Enrique Mora
Benavente, MFA Head of EU Policy Planning, told Poloff that
while other states may say they support Turkey's entrance
into the EU and offer only tepid support, Spain strongly
supports Turkey's candidacy.
2. (C) Although the current government of Spain favors
Turkish accession to the EU, the issue is not its highest EU
priority. Canovas believes that questions concerning Turkish
accession talks may be frozen until the EU Constitution has
passed in several nations. A strong and functioning European
Commission is also a priority of many EU member states.
Canovas said he would not be surprised if either Cyprus or
Greece added conditions to Turkish accession, such as the
settlement of the Cyprus problem as a condition of entry.
3. (C) COMMENT: Spain supports Turkish entry into the EU
and would vote in favor of Turkish accession today. The GOS
does not appear wedded to any particular timetable for
Turkish accession and could be influenced by considerations
from other EU members. Targeted U.S. actions would unlikely
change Spain's position, as they are already in favor of
Turkish entry into the EU, but Spain's major EU allies,
France and Germany, could possibly influence Spain's thinking
towards any particular timetable for Turkish accession. END
COMMENT
ARGYROS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014
TAGS: ECIN PREL EU TU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS TURKISH EU ACCESSION
REF: STATE 240286
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Spain supports Turkish EU candidacy, a policy that
has remained consistent through both the Popular Party
administration of Jose Maria Aznar and the current Socialist
administration of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. MFA EU
Correspondent Luis Canovas del Castillo told Poloff November
15 that Spain has always seen Turkey's entry into the EU as a
positive development. The EU has been expanding northward
and eastward, and the GOS would welcome balance in EU
expansion with another Mediterranean voice. Enrique Mora
Benavente, MFA Head of EU Policy Planning, told Poloff that
while other states may say they support Turkey's entrance
into the EU and offer only tepid support, Spain strongly
supports Turkey's candidacy.
2. (C) Although the current government of Spain favors
Turkish accession to the EU, the issue is not its highest EU
priority. Canovas believes that questions concerning Turkish
accession talks may be frozen until the EU Constitution has
passed in several nations. A strong and functioning European
Commission is also a priority of many EU member states.
Canovas said he would not be surprised if either Cyprus or
Greece added conditions to Turkish accession, such as the
settlement of the Cyprus problem as a condition of entry.
3. (C) COMMENT: Spain supports Turkish entry into the EU
and would vote in favor of Turkish accession today. The GOS
does not appear wedded to any particular timetable for
Turkish accession and could be influenced by considerations
from other EU members. Targeted U.S. actions would unlikely
change Spain's position, as they are already in favor of
Turkish entry into the EU, but Spain's major EU allies,
France and Germany, could possibly influence Spain's thinking
towards any particular timetable for Turkish accession. END
COMMENT
ARGYROS