Commission proposes rules for "accession partnership" and a single financial framework for assistance

Brussels, 26/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - This Wednesday the European Commission adopted its proposals in the Council concerning rules to be applied to draw-up, in the course of this year, the "accession partnership' with Turkey. Thus it also follows-up on the conclusions from the Helsinki summit (December 1999) and of Feira (June 2000) on this issue. The Commission proposes:

• Partnership for accession. The Commission will submit in November to the Council a regulation establishing a legal basis to the partnership. As in other candidate countries, the partnership will define the priorities, on which Turkey will have to concentrate to satisfy the "Copenhagen criteria", namely: a) democracy, rule of law, respect and protection of minorities, b) viable market economy, ability to confront competitive pressures and market forces within EU, c) ability of assume obligations resulting from accession, including the aims in terms of political, economic and monetary union, d) effective implementation of Community legislation to aiding adequate administrative and legal structures.

The Council will have adopted the regulation by qualified majority.

• Judicial framework for the coordination of all financial assistance. The aim of this is to help Turkey implement the priorities that will have been identified for accession. The Commission proposes a regulatory framework that does not contain figures, but rules to frame the aid already foreseen (or under the MEDA programme, see below).

The single financial framework implies gathering a single budgetary budget line of the funds presently distributed among three budget lines, so as to ensure the visibility of financing and equal treatment with the other candidate countries. In its preliminary draft 2001 budget, the Commission had proposed the creation of a new budget line "B7-050, pre-accession strategy for Turkey."

The spokesperson recalls that the budget for the financial aid to Turkey for this year total EUR 117 million, divided thus:

- EUR 127 million allocated to MEDA II programme,

- EUR 5 million aimed at strengthening EU/Turkey customs union (measure approved by Council last 10 April),

- EUR 45 million aimed at promoting economic and social development in Turkey (the draft regulation on this issue is presently being examined by the European Parliament)