Brussels, 21/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - At the invitation of the Turkish authorities, the Commissioner for Employment and Social Policy Anna Diamantopoulou will make an official visit to Turkey on Thursday 22 June and Friday 23 June. She is scheduled to meet the Minister of Labour Yasar Okuyan and the Minister for Family and Women's Affairs Hassan Gemici, along with leaders of the Turkish business community and trade unions and Turkish women's organisations. Ms Diamantopoulou will discuss the social acquis communautaire with Turkey, one of the most difficult aspects of the acquis for applicant states to implement. She will also inform the Turkish side of the latest developments in Community law as a result of the Amsterdam Treaty, notably in the area of equal opportunities and social inclusion and will give an outline of the European employment strategy.
Apart from the visit by the European Commissioner responsible for negotiations with applicant countries, Mr Verheugen, this is the first time that a member of the Prodi Commission has visited Turkey and the first visit ever by a Greek Commissioner.