No ‘Plan B’ for Turkey, says EU commissioner
The European Union?s Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele warned Turkey on Friday that it would not be able to join the EU if it does not resolve its dispute with Cyprus.
?No, we don?t have a Plan B,? he said on a visit to Istanbul.
Fuele urged Ankara to open Turkey?s ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus as party of the criteria it has to meet to qualify for membership of the Union.
Turkey has so far only completed one of the 35 policy chapters, 12 are still under discussion and 18 have been frozen because of opposition by EU member states, including Cyprus.
Turkey?s EU negotiator, Egemen Bagis, accused Nicosia of holding up the accession process.
?As far as the Commission and the other states are concerned, I think the real question is how long can we let this spoiled member of the EU ? the Greek Cypriot administration ? hijack the interests of the European Union at large,? he said.
?It is time for the 26 other nations to wake up and smell the coffee.?
