BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission approved on Wednesday Continuing Enlargement Strategy Paper.
The part of the paper about Turkey included detailed assessments.
Recalling its decision taken at the Helsinki Summit of 1999 that Turkey was a candidate state destined to join the EU on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate states, the paper said, ''if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.''
''Over the past year, the Turkish government has shown great determination in accelerating the pace of legislative reforms in the areas covered by the political criteria. It has also taken important steps to ensure their effective implementation,'' it said.
The paper noted, ''some of the reforms impinge upon sensitive issues such as freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, cultural rights and civilian control of the military, and demonstrate the determination of the Turkish government to move ahead.''
Giving some examples of the reforms of the Turkish government, the paper said, ''however, in spite of the determination of the government, the Commission considers that Turkey does not yet fully meet the Copenhagen political criteria.''
''A clear framework for guaranteeing political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights is not fully established, and more efforts are needed to enhance the coherence of legal provisions and practice,'' the paper defended.
Noting that cultural rights should be guaranteed for all Turkish citizens regardless of their origin, the paper said, ''particular attention should be given to the strengthening of the independence and the functioning of the judiciary, the overall framework for the exercise of fundamental freedoms, further alignment of civil-military relations with European practice and the situation in the Southeast.''
Highlighting importance of implementation of the reforms, the paper said, ''executive bodies at all levels are also responsible for implementation of the political reforms. In a number of cases, such bodies have narrowed the scope of the reforms by establishing restrictive conditions.''
Stressing that full benefits of the political and judicial reforms would accrue to the Turkish people over a number of years, the paper said, ''there are already clear signs of improvement in terms of enjoyment of human rights and basic freedoms. It is, however, of great concern that Turkey has not executed many judgements of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) by means of ensuring payment of just satisfaction or reversing decisions made in contravention of the ECHR.''
Recalling that efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem formed part of the enhanced political dialogue between the EU and Turkey, the paper said, ''the Commission considers that there are favorable conditions for the two communities to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem before Cyprus' accession to the EU on May 1, 2004. The absence of a settlement could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations.''
''Turkey, together with all parties concerned, has a decisive interest in providing determined support for efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem,'' it said.
The paper also underlined importance of making every effort to resolve any outstanding border dispute and other related issues on the basis of the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
-ECONOMY-
Noting that Turkey had significantly improved the functioning of its market economy, while macroeconomic imbalances remain, the paper said, ''the disinflation and reform process should be maintained.''
Defending that Turkey had not fully met its obligations related to the EU-Turkey Customs Union, the paper said, ''further work is required in economic area.''
The paper noted that a financial support of 1 billion 50 million euro was envisaged for Turkey in its EU adjustment process between 2004 and 2006.
In the conclusion part, the paper recalled that the EU Commission would submit its progress report for Turkey at the end of 2004, and the European Council would take a decision at its summit in December whether or not to open accession talks with Turkey on the basis of the EU Commission's progress report.
(End)
(UK) 05.11.2003