BARCELONA, March 14 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and his delegation came to Barcelona city of Spain on Thursday to attend EU member and candidate countries prime ministers meeting.
Prime ministers, foreign and economy ministers of the participating countries will discuss economy and social matters in Barcelona during the two-day meeting.
Ecevit is accompanied by his wife Rahsan Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Finance Minister Sumer Oral.
ISSUES CONCERNING TURKEY ON AGENDA OF EU BARCELONA SUMMIT
Heads of state and government, foreign and economy ministers of European Union (EU) member and candidate countries will meet in Barcelona, Spain for two days on Friday and debate economic and social issues.
Creation of a flexible labour force market in order to ensure more employment, development of education and training of European students and workers and increase of their activities, integration of financial markets in order to make Europe a real financial power, liberalization of electricity and gas markets, opening of Trans-European transportation networks abroad and their interconnection are on the agenda of the summit.
Heads of state and government, foreign ministers, economy or finance ministers of EU candidate countries will attend Friday's sessions of the summit.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Finance Minister Sumer Oral will represent Turkey at this part of the summit.
Participants will debate views about being included in EU's policies more efficiently, particularly ''Lismon Strategy'' foreseeing the development of informative society of candidate countries and increase of employment through this initiative until 2010.
Turkish officials have stated that items of agenda related with especially employment, improvement of employment and efficiency closely concerns Turkey in regard to not only steps to be taken during membership process but also in respect to Turkish labour force in EU member countries.
The officials have drawn the attention that Turkey is a transit center between Europe and other regions due to its geostrategic position and noted that Turkey is ''in key position'' in regard to connection of energy and transportation networks.
Middle East and Balkans, European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), counter terrorism activities are the other issues to be taken up during Barcelona Summit.
Prime Minister Ecevit, Foreign Minister Cem and Finance Minister Oral are expected to come to Barcelona later in the day.