BRUSSELS - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that Turkey opposed the proposal which was brought by Germany and France about institutional change within the European Union (EU).
Gul delivered a speech in today's meeting of the European Convention where the EU's future is discussed, and he explained Turkey's opinions about the reforms to be made within the EU institutions after enlargement.
Stressing that improvement of the EU's existing institutional system was undoubtedly necessary; Gul said that steps to be taken for improvement of the system should take into account the institutional balances within the EU.
Gul said that with this reason, Turkey did not welcome Germany's and France's proposal about change of the EU Council Presidency in every 2.5 years through election.
Foreign Minister Gul said that Turkey also opposed the proposal about formation of a regular presidency mission for the EU Council as it would make the existing system more complicated. Gul said that they wanted the current six-month term presidency to continue.
Abdullah Gul noted that formation of a congress in which national parliaments and European Parliament representatives participated would make the existing structure more complicated. Explaining his views about the structure of the EU Commission, Gul stressed the importance of formation of the Commission's structure in the enlarging EU in an efficient way that was in line with the principle of equality of member states.
(MS-AÖ) 15.05.2003