Brussels, 26/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - "All candidate countries are equal in the enlargement process. No exceptions exist for any candidate country on the grounds of geographical importance or size. All must fulfil the criteria of Copenhagen and implement the acquis". Such is the declaration made by Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou after her official visit to Ankara last week (see EUROPE of 22 June, p.16).
During her many meetings with Turkish political, trade union and employer personalities, Ms Diamantopoulou stressed the importance of social policy and the need for preliminary political contacts in order to adjust. She thus pointed out the possibilities for Turkey to already participate in EU programmes under her responsibility mentioning that the social inclusion, equal opportunities for women, anti-discrimination and "Equal" programmes are all open, or will be open, to Turkey.
Turkish Minister for Labour Yasar Okuyan explained to the Commissioner the new proposal for reform of the social security and pension system in Turkey. This reform was greatly encouraged by Mrs Diamantopoulou and consists in raising the minimum retirement age from 38 to 58 for women, and from 43 to 60 for men over a ten year period, introducing unemployment insurance and drawing up guidelines to avoid illegal employment.