What is the Czech Republic's position on Turkey joining the EU?

This Wednesday the European Commission is finally going to say whether it believes the European Union should begin accession talks with Turkey. It is of course a sensitive issue which has divided opinion around the continent, though most EU governments seem to be coming round to broadly supporting Turkish membership. But what is the Czech Republic's position?

What is the Czech Republic's position on Turkey joining the EU?

Günter Verheugen (right) with Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Prime Minister of Turkey) in Brusel, photo: CTK

Libor Roucek is a Czech Member of the European Parliament, and while he says he does not represent the government, his views do reflect Czech policy.

"We hope the report issued on October 6 by Mr Verheugen will be a positive one, and negotiations will be opened with Turkey. Negotiations doesn't mean that there is automatic membership right - that's not the case at all.

"If the decision is positive there will be a long-term process where all the steps taken by Turkey will be better evaluated, but I think now the decision should be made to open up entry talks with Turkey."

The issue of whether Turkey should get the green light for accession talks has received perhaps less attention in the Czech Republic than in some other EU states. Here's Deputy Foreign Minister Petr Kolar.

"The debate here in this country just started, it is quite fresh. We don't have a Turkish minority like in Germany or France, so it is relatively new here. I would say we have to respect promises which were made in the past. Turkey has a lot of expectations; they are working hard on fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria.

"Now we expect the regular report of the European Commission. It could be positive and if it is positive then probably the European Union would have to make a decision about the start of negotiations with Turkey."

For another view on the issue, I spoke to the much respected Czech economist Jan Svejnar.

"I am for Turkey joining the EU under a well-defined set of conditions. In other words I think that the fear which exists in Europe is that the Turks will join and will not conform, will be different, will retard Europe or cause internal tensions.

"So I think it's very important for the European Union to establish a set of clear conditions under which Turkey would be allowed to join, and then for Turkey to have to conform, to have to meet these requirements. Once that happens I think there should be no question that Turkey should be allowed to join."

Does Jan Svejnar believe the Turks actually will be given the go-ahead on Wednesday? And, if so, when does he see them becoming members of the EU?

"I think it will happen. I'm not sure if it will happen in the very short run, because my sense is that there is a significant amount of opposition, or I would say there is a sense in Europe that Turkey has not yet satisfied the conditions which it needs to satisfy, and that other countries which have joined have satisfied.

"So it may happen that we will not see that Turkey will be joining in the short run. I think in the medium run it's very likely that Turkey will join."