Brussels, 29/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - In the context of the new phase of relations between Turkey and the Union, the Turkish Minister of State in charge of economic affairs, Recep Onal, met Commissioner Pedro Solbes on Tuesday. The two men agreed to launch a process of dialogue between the two parties in the economic and financial field, so as to prepare the way for an evaluation of Turkish economic requirements. Mr. Solbes took note of the fact that the Turkish authorities had earlier this year launched an economic stabilisation programme that will make a priority of reducing inflation (in the order of 60% today) and improve the growth rate, notably through an ambitious privatisation porgramme. According to a joint press release, Turkey's achievements were praised and emphasis placed on the importance of the assistance that the Union would provide to Turkey during the pre-accession period. The Turkish delegation led by Mr. Onal (it also comprised the Undersecretary of State for the Treasury, Selcuk Demiralp and Gazi Ercel, Governor of the Central Bank) met the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Mrs. Rangoni Machiavelli on Monday and was received by Commissioner Verheugen. Wednesday, they will be in Luxembourg for talks with officials of the European Investment Bank. They also made contact with Director General Giovanni Ravasio and his services in the DG for Economic and Financial Affairs.
Talking to journalists in Tuesday, Mr. Onal stipulated that he had agreed with Mrs. Rangoni Machiavelli to proceed with a regular exchange of information, whereas talks with Mr. Solbes had been on the prospects for membership and "opportunities of available funding" in that framework. Secretary of State Demiralp spoke of the desire for a "political dialogue" at economic level and for setting up an "Economic and Financial Committee on a structural basis" between the EU and Turkey. Regarding the pre-accession partnership, the Commission's intention is to present it in October. The visit that Commission Verheugen is to make to Turkey on 10/11 March will be important in preparing this. Turkey, for its part, would like, without forcing the Commission's hand, to begin preparatory work as soon as possible to as to be able to advance gradually and be able to inform the public on many sectoral plans before July.