Türkiye's Grand National Assembly approved legislation on 4 November 2004 broadening the rights of civic organizations, a measure the European Union had called for before its scheduled 17 December decision on whether to open accession negotiations with Ankara.
The bill had originally cleared parliament in July but was sent back by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who argued that certain provisions violated the constitution. Because lawmakers passed the bill a second time without alterations, Sezer lost his right to issue another veto, though he retains the option of referring the legislation to the constitutional court.
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said the law would shift how associations are viewed by the state, describing the change as moving them from objects of suspicion to institutions worthy of support.
The legislation is one of several reforms the EU flagged as priorities in a 6 October European Commission report that recommended opening membership talks with Türkiye. Related measures include adjustments affecting non-Muslim religious foundations, creation of a judicial police force, and changes to criminal procedure rules. Türkiye has been an official EU membership candidate since 1999.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.