Strasbourg, 21/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 May, Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle and Turkey's Minister for European Affairs Egement Bagis launched the new positive agenda between the EU and Turkey. “This is a special day in the EU-Turkey relationship. This positive agenda should bring fresh dynamics and a new momentum into our relations. Our aim is to keep the accession process alive and put it properly back on track after a period of stagnation, which has been a source of frustration on both sides”, said Füle, stressing that this agenda does not aim to replace the accession process but to support it and even go further. “It is the new way we communicate and interact with each other (…), look at each other as to equal partners”, he added.
First working group on fundamental rights
This agenda, which also involves civil society, should allow Ankara to make progress for coming into line with EU legislation, political reforms on fundamental rights, visa rights, mobility and migration, trade, energy, the fight against terrorism and foreign policy. It will be based on working groups which will help with the acceleration of Turkey's process of alignment on European policies and standards in at least eight chapters.
The first meeting of the working group on the issue which is, according to Stefan Füle, “clearly the most important of all”, was held on Thursday 17 May. He went on to say that it was no coincidence that they were beginning with Chapter 23, which is directly linked to constitutional provisions and affects the next constitutional reform. Underlining reforms already underway or provided for in Turkey, the commissioner welcomed the fourth package of judiciary reforms which makes provision for reform to be continued in the fields of freedom of expression and the media. Füle explained that the package provides an excellent opportunity to tackle the main concerns on freedom of expression, the right to freedom and security, and the right to a free and fair trial. (CG/transl.jl)