Andreasen (ELDR). – (DA) Mr President, congratulations to Mr Oostlander on his splendid report. The European Council decided in Helsinki in 1999 that Turkey is a candidate country. That decision is still in force and, therefore, Turkey is to be treated as a candidate country in line with all the other candidate countries.

The biggest requirement of a candidate country is, as Mr Oostlander said, that it fulfil the Copenhagen Criteria. It is to be a society based on the rule of law with democratic stability and respect for human rights and for minorities, it is to have a well-functioning market economy, and so on. Turkey does not at present meet all these conditions, but it is on the way to doing so. We have seen much progress, and we must not, therefore, here and now reject the possibility of Turkey's becoming a member of the EU. There is no doubt that it is precisely the EU's demands that have contributed significantly to the democratic progress that has taken place in Turkey, and a signal from the European Parliament that Turkey cannot become a member of the EU, or that Turkey must be given special status would undoubtedly put a stop to this positive development.

On the basis of the Commission's papers, the Heads of Government are now, in December, to take a decision on accession negotiations with Turkey within a more precise time-scale and on more precise conditions. With Mr Oostlander’s thorough, balanced and comprehensive report, the European Parliament must, however, here and now send a signal to the European Council that Turkey is to be treated like all previous candidate countries. This is something we owe to our Turkish neighbours, and we must tell the Turks that they are well on the way and that they should continue along the path upon which they have embarked, for the benefit of Turkey, the EU and stability and growth in our part of the world.