With the Science and Research Chapter of the accession negotiations with Turkey now closed (it did not present significant complicationsand was dealt with first), the commissioner is seeking to raise the profile of other work that can be done by candidate countries outside the adoption of the
acquis communautaire. To this end, one of his activities during the visit will be to address a conference on European technology platforms in Ankara, jointly organised by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey and the country's Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the assumption of the EU Presidency by Italy, Cerboni said a solution to the Cyprus problem should abide by the
acquis communautaire, adding that "the EU is not 'a la carte' so that you can just pick up what you like."
Candidate countries also have to adopt and implement the EU's weighty
acquis communautaire, or body of law.
But this was deemed by the legal services as a violation of European
acquis communautaire, as it wouldn't allow the employment of EU citizens, which was why the law was sent back.
The implementation of the
acquis communautaire in the agricultural and environmental sectors might create problems in the new member states and other candidate countries, particularly in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
He also pointed out the importance of mutual trust among member states, which will be enhanced only if each member state meets its obligations for the proper implementation of the
acquis communautaire.
As part of the screening' process, which is aimed at evaluating the implementation of Community legislation (
acquis communautaire) in candidate countries before beginning membership negotiations, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) decided that the Turkish regulations did not allow for Chapter 8 to be opened (an operation which requires unanimity at the Council).
Cyprus being a full member of the EU is not only entitled, but is actually obliged to implement the
acquis communautaire.