Brussels, 23/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Turkish government on Friday sent its Parliament a new series of legislative proposals to implement the political reforms required by the European Union in order to open accession negotiations, indicated Turkish diplomats in Brussels. These proposals take up the reform work begun in August 2002. They relate to, amongst other things, the use of languages other than Turkish in audiovisuals and in election campaigns, and the abolition of article 8 of the anti-terrorism law on attacks against the indivisibility of the State, said the same source. The main opposition party and the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, Tüsiad, welcomed these proposals. Tüsaid's representatives in Brussels emphasised the abolition of article 8 of the anti-terrorism law, the "ambiguity" of which has, in practise, led it to "go beyond the suppression of terrorist activities at times, laying freedom of expression on the line". "The Turkish Parliament is now assuming an historical responsibility: to respect the European Human Rights Convention, European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence and thus, one of the fundamental conditions of the Copenhagen political criteria", stated Tüsaid in a press release.
In mid-April, Council approved the Commission's proposal to double pre-accession aid to Turkey if the reforms follow their proper course, with an overall envelope which could reach 1.05 billion Euros over the next three years (EUROPE of 16 April, p.5). At the Copenhagen European Council last December, the Heads of State and Government decided to take position in December 2004 on opening negotiations with Turkey (EUROPE of 16 December 2002).