Wednesday, 1 July 2009
The total number of chapters opened to negotiation in Turkey's EU adhesion process rose up to 11 with the opening of a policy chapter on taxation on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference following an intergovernmental conference held in the Belgian capital of Brussels, Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Egemen Bagis said that Turkey was determined to play its game according to the rules.
Bagis said Turkey expected EU not to hinder the chapters that are ready to be opened technically and to finalize the reports of the previously opened chapters as soon as possible.
"Turkey's EU adhesion process can only achieve its goals if both parties stick to their liabilities," Bagis said.
Bagis also thanked EU's term president Czech Republic and the European Commission for the efforts they displayed for the opening of the chapter on taxation.
He said Turkey would like to open as many chapters as it can during Sweden's upcoming rotating presidency.
Criticizing the Greek Cypriot veto against the opening of energy chapter, Bagis said Greek Cypriots risked the energy needs of 490 million Europeans by hampering such chapter.
Commenting on the reopening of Heybeliada Seminary as well, Bagis said that such issue was assessed within the context of "meeting the needs of the Greek Orthodox community who are equal citizens".
Upon a question on a recently adopted amendment paving the way for the trial of army members by civilian courts, Michael Leigh, European Commission's Director General for Enlargement, said that providing a civilian control over the army was a key priority for Turkey.
Speaking at the conference, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout said that his country was quite happy with the opening of the chapter on taxation on the last day of its term presidency.
As part of its EU negotiation process, Turkey has so far opened chapters on free movement of capital, company law, intellectual property law, information society and media, enterprise and industry policy, trans-European networks, consumer and health protection, statistics, financial control, and science and research.
The taxation chapter opened today is the eleventh of a total of 33 chapters.
Direct and indirect taxes in Turkey will be compatible with the acquis thanks to the chapter on taxation. Turkey is expected to attract more direct foreign investments after reaching EU standards in taxation, officials said.
