Brussels, 15/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 December, Turkey officially opened a new EU accession negotiation chapter - on economic and monetary policy (Chapter 17).
This chapter covers specific rules ensuring the independence of central banks in the member states, a ban on central banks financing the public sector directly, and a ban on the public sector's privileged access to the financial institutions. The member states are expected to coordinate their economic policies, and to submit to the Stability and Growth Pact on budgetary monitoring. Chapter 17 also prepares for the respect of fixed criteria in order to adopt the euro after joining the EU.
Since the start of its EU accession negotiation in October 2005, Turkey has opened 15 chapters and one has been provisionally closed. The opening of Chapter 17 is “an important step in our accession process after nearly two years of gridlock”, said Turkey's minister for European affairs, Volkan Bozkir, at a press conference. He also said that he hoped this would pave the way for other chapters being opened. Bozkir hailed the joint preparatory work on Chapters 23 and 24 (on the judicial apparatus and fundamental rights, and on freedom, security and justice), and Chapters 15 (on energy), 26 (on education) and 31 (on foreign policy and security policy).
In their conclusions on Tuesday 15 December, the EU's European affairs ministers also hailed the opening of Chapter 17, saying they were ready to support Turkey fully if it wanted to step up its efforts to respond to the fixed opening criteria - especially for the chapters on public procurement (5), competition (8) and social policy and employment (19).
Be it in the opening of the chapter or in the conclusion of the Council, the EU and Turkey hailed a boost to the accession process. The Council thus welcomes the broad strategic commitment and full regular dialogue between the EU and Turkey, as well as their cooperation on issues such as migration, the fight against terrorism, and energy.
In the opinion of European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, it is important for Turkey to make reforms if this new dynamic between the EU and Turkey is to be sustainable. This requirement for reforms is also written into the Council conclusions. The ministers state that Turkey must urgently remedy the significant shortfalls listed in the Commission's report (see EUROPE 11428), especially in the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights. They also highlight the independence and impartiality of the judicial system, and the freedom of expression and assembly. The EU ministers call for the resumption of peace negotiations with the Kurds. In addition, the Council hopes that Ankara might support the negotiations for the reconciliation of Cyprus, and states that the recognition of all the member states - and therefore also Cyprus - is an “essential” component of the accession process. The Council also underlines the importance of full and effective implementation of the readmission agreement and of the roadmap on visas with regard to “all” member states, including cooperation on justice and home affairs issues and non-discriminatory visa-free access to Turkish territory for citizens of all member states. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)