European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 18 September 2014:
Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met the new Turkish Minister
of European Affairs and the Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır in Brussels
today. It was their first meeting since the appointment of Mr Bozkir to
his current position and it offered an opportunity to exchange views on
EU-Turkey relations in general and on the accession process of Turkey,
including the upcoming Progress report.
Commissioner Füle expressed the
conviction that constructive cooperation between the EU and Turkey will
continue. He also stressed that Turkey is a key partner for the EU and
advocated a deepening of relations in all areas where there is still
huge, untapped potential, including economy and trade, foreign policy
dialogue, visa and migration policy and energy. In this context the
Commissioner underlined the strategic importance of Turkey for the EU
and confirmed the role of the accession negotiations as the central
engine of EU-Turkey relations. They both agreed on the need to re-engage
on the EU Positive agenda.
With reference to the upcoming
annual Progress Report of the European Commission on Turkey's progress
in the accession process, Commissioner Füle recalled that the report
always gives a factual account of developments and objectively reflects
both positive and negative developments that took place in Turkey over
the last 12 months. As every year, the Commission would give credit
where it is due and would recommend addressing the existing
shortcomings.
The Commissioner recalled the
necessity to enhance engagement with the Commission on the rule of law
and fundamental rights...He stressed the importance of the Ministry for
European Affairs in ensuring the coordination and compatibility of the
new legislation with the EU laws and underlined the need for this
Ministry to have all necessary conditions to do its crucial work on
bringing Turkey closer to the EU.
Commissioner Füle appreciated
the common understanding with Minister Bozkır about the importance of
the Civil Society in this process.
Concluding the meeting,
Commissioner Füle expressed the hope that under the next Commission,
EU-Turkey relations would continue to develop in order to achieve their
full potential for the benefit of both EU and Turkish citizens.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1023_en.htm?locale=en
18/9/14
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- Turkey announces new EU strategy...
Turkey's European Union Minister Volkan Bozkir announced "Turkey's New European Union Strategy", which aims to eliminate the obstacles to EU membership by accelerating the dynamics of Turkey-EU relations.
Addressing press members Thursday before starting his visits in Brussels, Bozkir said Turkey's new strategy towards the European Union has three legs; "Determination in the Political Reform Process, Continuity in Socioeconomic Transformation in the Accession Process and Effectiveness in Communication".
- “National Action Plan for EU Accession” will be implemented in two periods: the first period will last until 2015 and the second will cover the period of 2015-2019," said Bozkir, hinting at the successful closure of Turkey'sEU membership bid chapters.
Bozkir said the new strategy will also persuade Turkish citizens who are hesitant about Turkey's EU accession process and change negative perceptions.
Speaking about the progress reports of the EU on Turkey's annual performance, Bozkir said Turkey "should stop issuing its own progress reports".
- "Turkey's own progress reports do not have any value regarding the system," he said, adding the upcoming report should be functional both for the EU and Turkey, warning that an "inappropriate tone" in the report would cause more problems.
- In 2012 and 2013, Turkey announced its own "progress report", in a reaction to EU on "not being objective".
In three weeks the EU will issue an accession progress report on Turkey’s efforts to meet EU standards.
Turkey's New European Union Strategy
Prepared around the principles of "determination, continuity and effectiveness", the strategy has three main pillars: "Political Reform Process, Socio-economic Transformation in the Accession Process and EU Communication Strategy".
The European Union Strategy will become operational upon adoption of the “National Action Plan for the EU Accession” and “European Union Communication Strategy” in November.
"Prioritizing Turkey’s interests and benefits of the citizens, the new strategy will lead to a boost in the reform process and establishment of new communication channels between Turkey and the EU," said a written statement by Turkey's European Union Ministry on Thursday.
About the political reforms, the strategy will focus on "further advancing the reforms of the last twelve years in the fields of rule of law, democratization, human rights, civilianization, freedom and security and consolidating the related gains will be the basis of the political reform process in the upcoming period".
The political reform also includes "removing the imprints of Turkey's military coup in 1980" and "continuation of the reform process in line with the EU acquis".
About the "Socio-Economic Transformation in the Accession Process", the strategy says the process requires fundamental changes in all fields of daily life from production to consumption, justice to security, health to education, agriculture to industry and energy to environment.
"Each political, judicial, economic or social reform implemented on the path to the EU accession upgrades the living standards of the citizens and increases the economic power, democratic prestige and security of our country on the global scale," the manifest added.
Last component of the newly announced strategy is "European Union Communication Strategy", which hails the support the political and socio-economic reforms that have changed the outlook of Turkey with "tailored communication efforts".
"A successful communication strategy does not only serve to adoption of the reforms by the nation, but also help underpin the external image of the country with the facts instead of misperceptions," the manifest added.
The manifest can be accessed at http://www.ab.gov.tr/files/foto/eu_strategy.pdf
- Turkey welcomesEU-Ukraine association deal
Meanwhile Turkey has welcomed the ratification of an association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
In a statement released on Thursday, the foreign ministry said: "We are pleased with the simultaneous ratification of the association agreement by Ukraine and EU parliaments on September 16.
"Turkey strongly supports Ukraine's reform process and this country's preference towards developing relations with EU institutions at the rate and depth it desires."....................... http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/391234--turkey-announces-new-eu-strategy
18/9/14
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