Former enlargement commissioner Verheugen: "The EU failed to give Turkey a clear, reliable message"

European Commission Vice President and European Union Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Guenter Verheugen, who was commissioner for enlargement from 1999 to 2004, yesterday acknowledged the EU's political failure to give Ankara a clear signal concerning its perspective on Turkey's EU accession bid, stressing that this failure had damaged Ankara's will for more reforms. The EU's continued contradictory messages to Turkey have led Turks to doubt the Union's sincerity, Verheugen said. He said the EU's greatest political mistake was not introducing an open, reliable and consistent line for Turkey's EU accession bid, highlighting the importance of providing a clear perspective for Turkey. Stressing that Turkey carries great importance for the Union in terms of energy and security, Verheugen said the message the EU should give to Turkey is: "Whether you will become an EU member or not depends on yourself. We are unconditionally ready for this, when you fulfill the requirements for the accession." He also said that common human values such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights are universal and don't belong to any particular belief or culture, adding that Islam can coexist with those values.