Tuesday, 22 November 2005ANKARA - Turkey will draft a "Negotiation Position Document" that will outline Turkey's priorities during the de facto membership talks with the European Union, Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan said late Saturday.
Babacan made the remarks at the technical assessment meeting regarding the "Science and Research" and "Education and Culture" chapters of Turkey's EU accession process.
"We'll listen to non-governmental organizations [NGOS] and public institutions' views to shape a single position," he said. "As a result, Turkey will have a Negotiation Position Document before the opening of negotiations."
Babacan stated that Turkey aims to include all Turkish institutions in the process. "After the screening process comes to an end, the European Commission will prepare a report about each chapter," he said. "The report will be submitted to the EU Council. The approval of the 25-member states is required to start de facto negotiations. There will also be opening and closing criteria."
He added that Turkey has immediately started to benefit from EU programs. "Only this year, more than 15,000 students used the EU education program," he said. "Some 30-40,000 students will benefit from these programs in the coming years."
The New Anatolian |
Tuesday, 22 November 2005
Turkey and the EU
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