Brussels, 22/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission expressed relief about the fact that "clarification" would be given the next day about the situation in Turkey from the Turkish Prime Minister himself, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is to meet Commissioner Verheugen late morning. "The fact that this meeting is being held is a good thing", the Commissioner's spokesperson said, adding it is hoped it will "allow light to be shed on the situation, as well as on events in Turkey, and the timetable on continuation of reforms". At the time of going to press, it had not yet been decided whether the Turkish Prime Minister would also meet the president of the European Commission.
After pussy-footing on the part of the Turkish authorities on the question of adultery and reform of the criminal code, the European Commission warned, on Monday, that accession talks cannot be opened until the new criminal code has been adopted by the Turkish parliament (yesterday's EUROPE, p.5). The opposition calls on the party in power, the AKP, to convene an extraordinary meeting of parliament in order to conclude reform of the criminal code - without making adultery a crime - by 6 October, a date when the European Commission will give its opinion on launching negotiations. In normal session, the Turkish parliament will not resume its work until 1 October.
During the afternoon, Mr Erdogan will be at the European Parliament whose invitation to Brussels was at the origin of his visit. Arriving at the EP at 14h30, he should be welcomed by President Josep Borrell for half an hour before a two-hour discussion with the conference of political group presidents, then a joint press conference with Josep Borrell.