CHP targets lack of progress in EU
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Fulya Ozerkan
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Haziran 05, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Turkish-EU entry talks are expected to open in taxation as the Czech presidency expires at the end of this month. Deadlock on Cyprus and the government's failure to pass the necessary laws are the main obstacles to progress in Turkey's EU talks, says CHP’s Brussels bureau chief
Deadlock on Cyprus and the government's failure to pass the necessary laws are still the main impediments to continued progress in Turkey's European Union membership talks, said the main opposition party's Brussels bureau chief.Â
Kader Sevinç, speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review after briefing Republican People's Party, or CHP, leader Deniz Baykal on the current state of EU-Turkey relations, said contrary to the previous practice of opening two accession chapters every EU presidency term, it is expected to open only one chapter at an intergovernmental conference later this month.
"Turkish-EU entry talks are expected to open in taxation as the Czech presidency expires at the end of this month," Sevinç said. "Turkey cannot open the social policy and employment chapter because the unions’ law is still pending in Parliament, although the prime minister pledged in April this benchmark would be met."
During Swedish presidency
Her remarks came as Turkey's chief EU negotiator and State Minister Egemen Bağış said on Wednesday that the government hoped to open the chapter on the environment during the Swedish presidency starting on July 1 but the chapter on social policies was still awaiting the law on labor unions.
Turkey has opened 10 chapters since the formal launch of membership negotiations in 2005. Entry talks slowed for a number of reasons, including a row over Ankara's refusal to open its ports to shipping from member Greek Cyprus. No chapters have opened during the current Czech term presidency.
During their meeting, Baykal asked about the agenda of the incoming Swedish presidency beginning in July, a critical period for Turkey as Brussels' December 2009 deadline for a review of Ankara's position regarding the Cyprus problem comes closer, said Sevinç.
"The EU has taken no steps for a settlement to the Cyprus dispute since the Finnish term presidency [in 2006]. Sweden appears to take the initiative, which is not expected to be result-oriented. The Swedish plans could help the parties concerned understand each other and end the sanctions imposed on northern Cyprus," she predicted.
Baykal also questioned the future of the right-wing tendency in Europe and was informed about the European Parliament elections. Sevinç said the Socialist Group, which the CHP is a member of, is expected to increase its votes but added that would not change the dominance of the conservatives in Parliament.
Kurdish plan 'well received' in Europe
The Baykal-Sevinç meeting also focused on domestic developments, especially the party leader's recent visit to southeastern Anatolia and the CHP-proposed Kurdish plan. Sevinç said the plan, based on social and economic opening to the region, was deemed positive and peaceful and was well received in Europe.
Sevinç said the perception of the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, in the EU has changed for the better since the opening of the Brussels representative office Sept. 1. Sevinç was appointed the CHP’s EU representative last July.
"Now there is direct communication between the EU and the CHP," she said. "They can understand our thoughts on issues now, and they say, ’We did not know that it was like that.’ We are publishing bulletins that are sent to every department in the EU. When European socialists want to learn about something, they come to us."
Kader Sevinç, speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review after briefing Republican People's Party, or CHP, leader Deniz Baykal on the current state of EU-Turkey relations, said contrary to the previous practice of opening two accession chapters every EU presidency term, it is expected to open only one chapter at an intergovernmental conference later this month.
"Turkish-EU entry talks are expected to open in taxation as the Czech presidency expires at the end of this month," Sevinç said. "Turkey cannot open the social policy and employment chapter because the unions’ law is still pending in Parliament, although the prime minister pledged in April this benchmark would be met."
During Swedish presidency
Her remarks came as Turkey's chief EU negotiator and State Minister Egemen Bağış said on Wednesday that the government hoped to open the chapter on the environment during the Swedish presidency starting on July 1 but the chapter on social policies was still awaiting the law on labor unions.
Turkey has opened 10 chapters since the formal launch of membership negotiations in 2005. Entry talks slowed for a number of reasons, including a row over Ankara's refusal to open its ports to shipping from member Greek Cyprus. No chapters have opened during the current Czech term presidency.
During their meeting, Baykal asked about the agenda of the incoming Swedish presidency beginning in July, a critical period for Turkey as Brussels' December 2009 deadline for a review of Ankara's position regarding the Cyprus problem comes closer, said Sevinç.
"The EU has taken no steps for a settlement to the Cyprus dispute since the Finnish term presidency [in 2006]. Sweden appears to take the initiative, which is not expected to be result-oriented. The Swedish plans could help the parties concerned understand each other and end the sanctions imposed on northern Cyprus," she predicted.
Baykal also questioned the future of the right-wing tendency in Europe and was informed about the European Parliament elections. Sevinç said the Socialist Group, which the CHP is a member of, is expected to increase its votes but added that would not change the dominance of the conservatives in Parliament.
Kurdish plan 'well received' in Europe
The Baykal-Sevinç meeting also focused on domestic developments, especially the party leader's recent visit to southeastern Anatolia and the CHP-proposed Kurdish plan. Sevinç said the plan, based on social and economic opening to the region, was deemed positive and peaceful and was well received in Europe.
Sevinç said the perception of the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, in the EU has changed for the better since the opening of the Brussels representative office Sept. 1. Sevinç was appointed the CHP’s EU representative last July.
"Now there is direct communication between the EU and the CHP," she said. "They can understand our thoughts on issues now, and they say, ’We did not know that it was like that.’ We are publishing bulletins that are sent to every department in the EU. When European socialists want to learn about something, they come to us."