Malta supports Turkey’s EU bid only if all accession criteria are met

Malta supports Turkey’s bid to join the European Union only if all accession criteria are met, including Turkey’s recognition of Cyprus.

Speaking in parliament, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Turkey was a strategic partner, and should join the EU only if it satisfies all criteria, including press freedom and recognizing the whole 28-bloc, Cyprus included.

“We are currently far from being satisfied,” Muscat said.

He argued, that Turkey could not implement the Schengen agreement if it didn’t recognize all member states.

“But I think that there are advancements being made on the Cyprus issue,” he said, adding that Turkey’s accession could not be seen like any other “normal” enlargement.

Turkey would become the biggest EU member state, bigger than Germany. He said, that one should not ignore Turkey’s geo-political strength.

Declaring “a new beginning” for the relations between the European Union and Turkey, Turkey promised to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU.

Leaders met Turkish premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels on Sunday to finalize an agreement hammered out by diplomats over the past month, as Europeans struggle to limit the strain on their 28-nation bloc from taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.

A key element is €3 billion in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey. The money is intended to raise their living standards and so persuade more of them to stay put rather than attempt perilous crossings to the EU via the Greek islands.

According to media reports, Turkey had initially asked for a yearly €3 billion, although Muscat said leaders were not given such information.

Turkey reportedly spends €8 billion every year to manage the refugee crisis.

“What has been agreed was a statement of intent and it’s now up to the European Commission to find that money. I believe that substantial part of the money could come from funds already available to the Commission but there would still require additional input. I don’t envisage any burden that could be placed on member states,” he said.

Muscat said one should not send contradictory messages where, on one hand, the EU expects Turkey to manage the migratory flow, whilst on the other hand voicing reluctance to help it.

Turkey’s commitment, Muscat said, was to ensure that migrants remain in Turkey. Muscat also said that there was no debate on the EU taking side on the tensions between Russia and Turkey, who both are playing different roles in Syria’s war.

Davutoglu gave his version of events.

“Malta’s position remains that of both Turkey and Russia being strategic partners and therefore recognize that they are two key players. The last thing we need is a cold war between the two.”

During his intervention at the summit, Muscat urged member states to avoid a sporadic agreement with Turkey based solely on the migration crisis. “The relationship between the EU and Turkey must recognise that need of a better working relationship,” he said, adding that Turkey had adopted “a humanitarian” policy.

Muscat argued that Turkey could exercise its influence to help Libya reach a lasting solution. Davutoglu confirmed Turkey’s good relations with the Tripoli side, although contact existed as well with the Tobruk side. The process for a Libyan government of national unity was further complicated after different regions in Libya pledged their support to different factions.

Muscat also briefed the House on the COP21. He said the climate change summit held in Paris also sent a symbolic message that terror attacks will not stop the international community from coming together to discuss issues affecting communities.

“The threat of climate change is real and we can already feel its effects … even Malta is being affected,” he said, reminding that Malta had bound itself to meet EU targets to reduce emissions through the switch to gas and the use of renewable energy.

One challenge for Malta is transport, a heavy source of pollution.

The Prime Minister attended the COP21 also as the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office during which he conveyed the commitment of Commonwealth leaders to limiting global warming. Commonwealth nations also reaffirmed their pledge to mobilise $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries adapt and mitigate to climate change effects.

During his intervention, Muscat also urged world leaders to adopt a legally-binding agreement to tackle climate change.

“Despite finding the resistance of one member, the agreement presented showed the leadership of the Commonwealth. If united, the Commonwealth can be a catalyst of change.”