Brussels, 04/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Ankara for a troika with Turkey, the commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, on Monday called on the next Turkish government to step up its reforms in order to bring the country more into line with the EU. “It is now even more important to have a new government which is capable of reinforcing the process of reform and bringing Turkey closer to the European Union”, Mr Rehn told the press, after his meeting with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Gül. “We are a candidate country for accession. Political crises may occur, but (…) the process of reform will continue at full steam” after the legislative elections of 22 July, said Mr Gül. Both men stated that they expect negotiations to be opened on three new chapters (financial controls, economic and monetary policy and statistics) at the forthcoming accession conference at ministerial level, to be held on 26 June. “This will be a good result, but allow me to stress the fact that it is more than just a technical process. What really counts are pace and intensity of reforms on the ground”, said Mr Rehn. The future government must “create new and renewed impetus to the process of reforms, in order fully to ensure fundamental rights”, he added, quoting, amongst other things, liberty of expression, freedom of religion, women's rights and unions, areas which came under attack from the Commission in its progress report of November 2008, when it criticised the fact that the pace of reforms in Turkey had slowed down (EUROPE 9302). German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Monday, also stressed the need for a reform of article 301 of the Turkish criminal code, the current version of which restricts the liberty of the press and the media.
“On the subject of Cyprus, the fact that the anticipated gestures have not been made is genuinely saddening”, he continued, noting that Ankara has still not fully come into line with its obligations on customs union. On this issue, the EU had decided last December not to open negotiations on eight chapters and not to close any as long as Ankara failed to implement the protocol on the extension of EU/Turkey customs union to the new member states, including Cyprus (see, amongst others, EUROPE 9326). (ab)