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Turkey: Second meeting of the Accession Conference at deputy level

Summary: Turkey: Second meeting of the Accession Conference at deputy level (29 March 2007: Brussels)

The second meeting of the Accession Conference with Turkey at deputy level was held today in Brussels, following the start of accession negotiations on 3 October 2005. The aim was to open negotiations on chapter 20 - Enterprise and industrial policy.

For this chapter, and on the basis of negotiating positions, the Union has closely examined Turkey's general state of preparedness in this area. Taking into account Turkey's present state of preparations, in line with the Council conclusions on 11 December 2006 and on the understanding that Turkey will continue to make progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis, the EU notes that in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, the following two benchmarks need to be met:

- Turkey has fulfilled its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement.

- Turkey provides the Commission with a revised comprehensive industrial policy strategy aiming at strengthening Turkey's industrial competitiveness. This strategy will address in some detail all key sectors of industry, including all those referred to in the 2003 Industrial Strategy, inter alia shipbuilding, railway- and food industry. It will be built on a thorough evaluation of past policy performance and a solid analysis of the competitiveness of industries concerned. It should enable an improved policy coordination and coherence and lead to better policy ownership and improved policy implementation. The strategy should also take account of the two sectoral strategy documents already under preparation (for the steel and the automotive supply industry) as well as of any future strategic sectoral documents. It should also take into account results of Turkey's sector technical committees including on sectors such as motor vehicles and textiles.
In more general terms, Turkey also needs to devote particular attention to the specific issues highlighted in the EU position, with a view to ensuring Turkey's administrative capacity to implement an effective enterprise and industrial policy. Underlining the importance of a functioning market economy as an essential element of this chapter, the EU also underlines the contribution of an effective enterprise and industrial policy to enhancing Turkey's capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Particular consideration also needs to be given to the links between this chapter and other negotiating chapters.

The Union will closely monitor Turkey's progress in the alignment with, and the implementation of, the acquis in this chapter throughout the negotiations.

  • Ref: CL07-084EN
  • EU source: Council
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 29/3/2007


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See also
 

European Union Member States