ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Thursday that Turkey did its European Union (EU) homework with great sensitivity.
Speaking at a news conference held jointly by EU Commission Turkey Representative Hansjorg Kretschmer, Babacan said ''flow of EU funds to Turkey will start as of November''.
Babacan said those funds would be extended to many projects not to some 3-4 big projects, stating that Decentralized Implementation System added a new dimension to relations with the EU.
Babacan said structural arrangements with respect to EU's political criteria were met with the seventh adjustment package, noting that practices of the reforms would be important till the end of 2004.
Babacan said, ''we are pleased to see that concrete developments began to be recorded in our studies to adjust with the EU. Concrete steps started to be taken regarding institutional infrastructure of our economy units.''
Babacan said EU member countries closely watched the sincere and resolved attitude of the government pertaining to EU membership.
DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM HAS ELIMINATED DIFFERENCES IN ADJUSTMENT OF EU CANDIDATES
EU Commission's Representative to Turkey Kretschmer said that elimination of differences was a sign of very rapid developments that Turkey had recorded to become an EU member in the future.
Kretschmer stated that accreditation of DIS was a sign of confidence of EU in capability of Turkish government to administer funds given to itself according to EU rules.
The accreditation process lasted long since the use of those funds by Turkish government should be administered according to EU's financial rules, Kretschmer emphasized.
Kretschmer said that amount of funds to be provided by EU to Turkey would increase in the following two years.
Administration of those funds by Turkish officials would help Turkey gain experiences, Kretschmer stated.
Kretschmer pointed out that thus, Turkey could easily manage future structural and solidarity funds extended to itself by the EU.
Drawing attention that Turkey was asked to fulfil very high standards, Kretschmer said that Turkey had fulfilled all those standards and it would be a very good experience for Turkey also after its accession to EU.
Kretschmer stressed that new members of EU had faced problems in management of increasing funds during EU enlargement process.
As Turkey had already fulfilled those high standards, it could make a very good beginning when it became an EU member, Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer recalled that agreement on ''The Active Labor Market Strategy'' programme was signed with Labor and Social Security Ministry on Wednesday, adding that it was the first program to be implemented under the Decentralized Implementation System (DIS).
(BRC-AY) 23.10.2003