The EU should begin accession negotiations with Turkey "without undue delay". Two days before a decision by the European Council, MEPs adopted a resolution saying that Turkey has made impressive progress in respecting the political criteria, enough for negotiations on EU membership to start. The resolution was adopted by 407 votes in favour, 262 against and 29 abstentions in a secret ballot (under rule 162 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure).
Nevertheless, Parliament acknowledged that problems continue to exist, such as regarding minority rights, religious freedoms, trade union rights, women's rights, the role of the army, Cyprus and the relations with Armenia. Therefore it stressed that, in the first phase of negotiations, priority should be given to the full application of the political criteria. In case of serious breaches of the political criteria, negotiations must be suspended. MEPs also underlined that starting negotiations will not automatically result in Turkey's accession and that appropriate ways will have to be found "to ensure that Turkey remains fully anchored in European structures", should negotiations not be successfully concluded.
MEPs were satisfied that Turkey had fulfilled a number of recommendations and requirements included in earlier EP resolutions, such as the abolition of the death penalty; the extension of important fundamental rights and freedoms, reduction of the role of the National Security Council and the lifting of the state of emergency in the south-east. But they said that Turkey still had to adopt further reforms and put these, as well as current reforms, into practice. Thus it would have to lift all remaining restrictions on broadcasting and education in minority languages; put an end to the discrimination of religious minorities; completely eradicate torture; draft a new constitution; lower the threshold of ten percent in parliamentary elections; disband the village guard system in the south-east; apply ILO standards for trade union rights; limit the role of the army further; continue the process of reconciliation with Armenia; and recognise the Republic of Cyprus. MEPs also mentioned the eradication of violence against women, freedom of expression and press freedom as issues they would monitor closely.
The Parliament also referred to earlier conclusions of EU government leaders that "the Union's capacity to absorb new members while maintaining the momentum of European integration constitutes an important criterion for accession, from the point of view both of the Union and of candidates for accession". And it noted that Turkey could only become a member after the EU's long-term budget planning for the period from 2014 onwards has been decided upon.