Brussels, 31/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is carefully avoiding intervening in the ongoing campaign in Turkey with a view to the referendum on constitutional reform, to take place on 12 September, but naturally is hoping for a positive outcome of the people's vote on the reform package which, in its opinion, will help to take forward the country's membership talks. “We believe that this reform package, which will be submitted to the referendum on 12 September, is a positive step in the right direction as it addresses a number of longstanding shortcomings which the EU has identified over the years in progress reports”, a source close to Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle commented on Tuesday. Even if the Commission had wanted reforms proposed to go further in some areas (mainly with regard to the protection of fundamental freedoms), it nonetheless welcomes the intention to restrict the competence of military courts, to enlarge the composition of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, to allow positive discrimination measures in favour of women and children, and to create the legal base for setting up an ombudsman. The Commission nonetheless remains critical about the way in which the reform package was prepared by the Turkish government. It considers that such important reform deserved closer consultation of all political forces and more active involvement by the Turkish civil society “in a spirit of dialogue and compromise”. The Commission will carry out an analysis and in-depth assessment of reforms in the next progress report on Turkey, due on 10 November. (H.B./transl.jl)