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