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cannedmoose
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Latest update from Euractiv
http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-144258-16&type=News
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After repeated attempts to formulate a unified stance on a declaration addressing Turkey's refusal to recognise Cyprus, a meeting of the member states' permanent representatives (COREPER) failed again on 14 September to agree on a wording. Formally, the accession talks with Turkey cannot open in absence of a unanimous EU-25 agreement on the technical terms of the talks (the so-called negotiating road map).
- Austria, an opponent of Turkey's accession, wants to couple the start of talks with Ankara with the launch of long-delayed membership negotiations with Croatia, and proposes less than full membership to Turkey. Britain, Italy and the Netherlands remain opposed to the Austrian stance, and the other member states appear likewise unsupportive
- Nicosia remains adamant that the EU should give a firm deadline to Ankara for recognising the Greek Cypriot government
- Greece has reportedly tabled a compromise proposal under which Turkey should recognise Cyprus as part of its accession process
- France, in agreement with Britain, emphasises the need to back UN efforts to reunite Cyprus
COREPER is scheduled to discuss the issue again on 21 September and the EU's foreign ministers are now likely to meet again on 26 September for emergency talks. |
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-mikkie2-
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Joined: 29 Aug 2005
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Does anyone get the feeling that the British EU presidency is trying to rush through the EU counter statement to Turkey before Sundays German elections?
And would it not be surprising if Cyprus delayed agreement until after these elections?
Because you can bet that if Merkel wins these elections then expect her to be behind the Cypriot positions regarding the counter statement and the negotiating framework for Turkey.
I personally think that the election will be close. A grand coalition between CDU and SPD will probably collapse in a few months. Perhaps she may win by a whisker. Who knows.
All I can say is, Erdogan is probably s****g himself! |
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brother
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Joined: 15 Aug 2005
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Location: London/Cyprus
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| -mikkie2- wrote: |
Does anyone get the feeling that the British EU presidency is trying to rush through the EU counter statement to Turkey before Sundays German elections?
And would it not be surprising if Cyprus delayed agreement until after these elections?
Because you can bet that if Merkel wins these elections then expect her to be behind the Cypriot positions regarding the counter statement and the negotiating framework for Turkey.
I personally think that the election will be close. A grand coalition between CDU and SPD will probably collapse in a few months. Perhaps she may win by a whisker. Who knows.
All I can say is, Erdogan is probably s****g himself! |
Merkel will not win,FULLSTOP. Beyond that if a miracle happens and she does get in scroeder's foriegn policy can not be changed so quickly. |
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-mikkie2-
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| Merkel will not win,FULLSTOP. Beyond that if a miracle happens and she does get in scroeder's foriegn policy can not be changed so quickly. |
Why do you say this? Do you know something we don't? The opinion polls suggest that the CDU is ahead of the SPD but not by enough to win outright. If this does indeed transpire then Merkel will be Chancellor but in a grand coalition with SPD. I am saying that 'grand coalitions' never really work and will probably collapse as the differences between the two are too wide. |
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cannedmoose
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She will win, but whether she wins with enough votes to rule alone is questionable, it's touch and go whether the CDU and Free Democrats will scrape enough collectively for an overall majority. I notice that Schroeder is doing the rounds of Turkish citizens in Germany going for the 600,000 Turkish votes hoping to swing the balance and force a grand coalition between the CDU and SPD.
As for German policy on Turkey, it won't change overnight - Germany won't oppose the beginning of talks with Turkey, but a Merkel Chancellorship will make Turkey's progress more difficult. |
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-mikkie2-
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Just goes to show how desperate Schroder has become. The Turks of Germany constitute around 1% of the total electorate.
I wonder what the turnout will be. Is is law that German citizens must vote? I know in some countries it is against the law to not vote. |
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brother
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Joined: 15 Aug 2005
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Location: London/Cyprus
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| -mikkie2- wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Merkel will not win,FULLSTOP. Beyond that if a miracle happens and she does get in scroeder's foriegn policy can not be changed so quickly. |
Why do you say this? Do you know something we don't? The opinion polls suggest that the CDU is ahead of the SPD but not by enough to win outright. If this does indeed transpire then Merkel will be Chancellor but in a grand coalition with SPD. I am saying that 'grand coalitions' never really work and will probably collapse as the differences between the two are too wide. |
I have spoken to a few people recently (wish city was about right now) and they all say the same thing, that they would rather vote for the devil they know than 'merkel' and also i believe the charisma of schroeder will at the last minute prevail and he will win but only a couple of days till we find out who got it right.
Someone is going to be eating humble pie soon, who will it be we will see.  |
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brother
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| -mikkie2- wrote: |
Just goes to show how desperate Schroder has become. The Turks of Germany constitute around 1% of the total electorate.
I wonder what the turnout will be. Is is law that German citizens must vote? I know in some countries it is against the law to not vote. |
Australia is one country where you have to go to the polls even if you do not want to vote or you get hefty fines etc. i actually agree with this and think the EU countries should implement a system like this too. |
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cannedmoose
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| -mikkie2- wrote: |
| I wonder what the turnout will be. Is is law that German citizens must vote? I know in some countries it is against the law to not vote. |
No, Germany does not have compulsory voting... turnout in the last election was just under 80%, so not too bad, will probably be about the same this time... |
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cannedmoose
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| brother wrote: |
| Australia is one country where you have to go to the polls even if you do not want to vote or you get hefty fines etc. i actually agree with this and think the EU countries should implement a system like this too. |
I can see the benefits, but forcing people to vote isn't the answer. Most people don't vote because they either can't be bothered - in which case if these people vote you could end up with fringe parties being elected as a protest - or because they don't feel represented by their politicians. |
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cannedmoose
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| brother wrote: |
| also i believe the charisma of schroeder will at the last minute prevail |
First time I've seen the words 'Schroeder' and 'charisma' used in the same sentence...  |
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brother
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| cannedmoose wrote: |
| brother wrote: |
| Australia is one country where you have to go to the polls even if you do not want to vote or you get hefty fines etc. i actually agree with this and think the EU countries should implement a system like this too. |
I can see the benefits, but forcing people to vote isn't the answer. Most people don't vote because they either can't be bothered - in which case if these people vote you could end up with fringe parties being elected as a protest - or because they don't feel represented by their politicians. |
On that note when you attend the polling station if you do not want to vote you do not have too, you just have to turn up like everyone else, so i would envision no problem to this system imo. |
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erolz
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Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 4195
Location: Kyrenia / Girne
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| cannedmoose wrote: |
| I can see the benefits, but forcing people to vote isn't the answer. Most people don't vote because they either can't be bothered - in which case if these people vote you could end up with fringe parties being elected as a protest - or because they don't feel represented by their politicians. |
I am a big believer that there should always be an option 'none of the above'. I rarely voted in the UK because there was rarely a candidate that represented what I wanted represented. If there was a formal recognised and counted 'none of the above' option on the polls I would have voted everytime and used this option. If 'none of the above' was the 'winning' candidate in elections, then maybe politicans would act with a bit more humility and less arrogance. |
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-mikkie2-
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Joined: 29 Aug 2005
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| But Erol, you could still turn up and spoil your ballot. Spoiled ballots are actually noted and counted. If there was an unusually high number of spoiled ballots that would perhaps ring alarm bells. |
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Dhavlos
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| I think everyone should have to turn up, but they can always spoil the ballot, which is at least more pro-active than sitting at home imo. politicians would listen if more ballots were spoilt than valid!!!!! |
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