DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000771

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA-JEFF GIAUQUE, EUR/SE-DANIELLE GARBE
AND EUR/CE-JAMIE LAMORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV TU EUN HU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS ON
TURKEY'S ACCESSION

REF: SECSTATE 79278

Classified By: PolOff Ryan C. Leong; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Ref talking points were delivered on July 31 to GoH
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials Marta Varkonyi, Head of
the EU Enlargement Unit, and Zsuzsa Nora Vincze, Turkey desk
officer. Hungary welcomed the July 30 decision by the
Turkish Constitutional Court regarding the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) and believed that progress on
Turkey's path to accession would resume now that this
political obstacle had been overcome. As a member of the
informal expert-level EU Friends of Enlargement group,
Hungary remains a strong supporter of continued EU expansion.
That said, Varkonyi was quick to point out that EU accession
of Croatia and Macedonia is a priority for Hungary, ahead of
Turkey and other aspiring states.


2. (C) During the June 2008 Friends of Enlargement meeting in
London, participants agreed that Turkey's accession process
would not be suspended regardless of the Constitutional Court
ruling. Hungary is wary of the persistent issue of Cyprus
and the eight accession chapters currently closed to Turkey
solely because of this issue. Vincze is hopeful that the
direct negotiations between Greek Cypriots and Turkey planned
for September 2008 will address many of these issues,
especially the prickly issue of customs duties and
procedures. Varkonyi noted that there is a particular EU
procedural line item that Cyprus could use if Turkey's
position did not soften soon, to the effect that if a "long
lasting breach" of basic EU principles is not resolved
(recognition of Cyprus),accession talks could be suspended
outright. Hungary shares the expectation of most EU members
that Turkey will pass a new constitution before approaching
the final stages of accession. Varkonyi does not view the
recent Mediterranean Union summit as a substitute for Turkish
membership as a full EU member.


3. (C) Regarding Croatia, Varkonyi is concerned about
continuing accession momentum in the face of Ireland's
rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in June. Hungary will
continue to work towards the goal of having all accession
chapters open for Croatia by the end of 2008, all chapters
closed by October 2009, and accession of Croatia in the first
half of 2011. Whatever the future form of the Lisbon Treaty
turns out to be, Varkonyi maintains that reform and expansion
of the EU is simply a question of political will and that
accession treaties for new member states are as good a
mechanism as any for implementing EU-wide institutional
changes.
Foley