US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS5029

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 005029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2014 
TAGS: PREL, TU, CY, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: (C) COMMISSION CONSIDERS TURKEY/CYPRUS "PACKAGE" 
FOR DECEMBER 17 
 
Classified By: useu/pol: o'hara, reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1.(C) Summary: Under their new Commissioner, Commission 
officials working on Turkish accession and the Commission's 
now-stalled trade and assistance package for North Cyprus are 
determined not to be sidelined as the Dutch Presidency 
prepares for the December 17 European Council decision on 
Turkey. Specifically, the Commission is informally talking up 
a package of things that the Dutch Presidency could offer to 
Turkey and Cyprus as part of a last-minute end-game. So far, 
the Commission sees the Dutch Presidency as being tough on 
the Turks, with the Turks not giving up anything in return. 
On Cyprus, the Commission very much wants the Dutch and other 
member states to entice the Cypriots to join the EU "culture 
of compromise."  End Summary. 
 
Package 
------- 
 
2. (C) Commission DG-Enlargement experts tell us that they 
are stitching together a package of things that Turkey, 
Cyprus and the EU could do to ensure a clean and clear 
December 17 European Council outcome on Turkey.  What they 
are informally proposing is that the Dutch Presidency offer 
Turkey a trade and aid package for north Cyprus in exchange 
for Ankara signing the protocol to the current EU/Turkey 
association agreement (also known as the Ankara Agreement) 
recognizing its validity for all ten new EU member states -- 
including Cyprus.  The Commission wants the Cypriots and the 
Turks to get the message that both sides need to do something 
in order to get something.  There is some concern in the 
Commission that Cyprus, if it feels cornered or feels that it 
has nothing to gain from a December 17 decision to provide 
Turkey with an accession date, could veto what otherwise 
would be a positive decision.  The Commission is being 
careful not to broadcast such a proposed deal.  They believe 
the current moment is too far from December 17.  Instead, 
they say they are trying to help the Dutch Presidency manage 
this issue over the next few weeks. 
 
3.  (C) In addition, the Commission is interested in seeing 
how the December 17 decision and a start of accession talks 
might be used to get the peace process in Cyprus back on 
track.  The Commission wants to repackage and re-craft the 
Annan plan to get the leaders of both parts of Cyprus talking 
to each other again. 
 
EU/Turkey Ministerial 
--------------------- 
 
4. (C) Commission contacts noted as "personal views" their 
sense that the Dutch had been "very tough" with Turkey at 
their November 24 troika ministerial meeting in the Hague 
(septel).  They said that the Dutch had pushed not only for 
the protocol but also recognition of Cyprus.  The Commission 
commented that the Turks had been just as tough -- giving no 
ground on either the protocol or recognition. 
 
New Commissioner Rehn steps in... 
--------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Commission contacts admitted that Turkey had felt 
disappointed with Commissioner Verheugen's move from 
Enlargement, but stressed that replacement Enlargement 
Commissioner Rehn is fully seized with the importance that 
Turkish accession has for the EU. Rehn plans to be fully 
active in the internal EU deliberations between now and 
December 17 -- even if most of the work is now in the hands 
of the Dutch Presidency. Rehn told his staff that he felt 
that he had had good meetings at the November 24 EU/Turkey 
ministerial -- not only with the Turks, but also with the 
Dutch Presidency. Rehn's marching orders to his DG are to 
keep fully engaged, including providing various options for 
the Dutch Presidency to exploit to ensure a favorable 
outcome. 
 
6. (SBU) Commissioner Rehn is going to London November 29-30 
and, among other things, will be interested in brainstorming 
with UK officials on Turkey accession and Cyprus (trade and 
aid for the North, possibly peace process). 
 
SCHNABEL