The provisions were added, on the eve of the December 17th vote of the European Council on opening European Union membership talks with Turkey, as amendments to a Parliamentary report on Turkey?s progress toward accession to the European Union. This report, prepared by Camiel Eurlings (PPE/The
Netherlands) was passed by a vote of 407 to 262. Significantly, the report stressed, in Paragraph 55, that, "the opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a long-lasting process [?] and does not lead 'a priori' and automatically to accession." An amendment to the report suggesting that Turkey be granted a "privileged partnership" rather than actual membership in the European Union was rejected by a secret ballot.

The Eurling Report made specific reference to Armenian issues in eight separate paragraphs, with three dealing specifically with Armenian Genocide recognition. Amendments on the Genocide were brought to the floor by four political groups (EPP, PSE, ALDE, United Left, Independence/Democracy), respectively by Mr. Toubon (EPP/France), Mr. Poignant (PSE/France) and Mrs. Carlotti (PSE/France), Mrs. De Sarnez (ALDE/France), Mr. Wurtz (United
Left/France) and Mr. Belder (IND/DEM / Netherlands).

In the end, the European Parliament urged Turkey to "promote the process of reconciliation with the Armenian people by acknowledging the genocide" and called on the European Council and Commission to demand this country to "formally acknowledge the historic reality" of the Genocide.

The European Armenian Federation welcomed the adoption of the Eurling Report and the three amendments clearly articulating the European consensus that Turkey must acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. "On the eve of the European Summit, heads of state must, as they chart a course for the future, take into account the democratic will of the European electorate and our elected representatives in the European Parliament," stated Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. "This is a tremendous victory for Europeans who want to preserve European values in the face of Turkey?s ongoing denial of the Genocide," she continued.

Since the European Parliament resolution of 1987, which set the recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition to the consideration of Turkish accession to the Union, the European Parliament has continuously restated
this principled position in successive resolutions. This message was
reinforced earlier this week by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called on Turkey to recognize the genocide against the Armenians. ?The clear consensus within European circles remains: Turkey cannot join the Union without giving up its ultra-nationalist and aggressive policy towards Armenia,? explained Tchoboian. ?European Armenians urge the upcoming meeting of the European Council to reflect the will of the European public, to honor this vote of the European Parliament, and to respect the European values on which the European project is based," concluded the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The full text of the Armenia related paragraphs in the Eurling resolution are provided below.