SURPRISE E.U. PLAN FOR APRIL
By Mehmet Ocaktan

Turkish Press
March 14 2007

YENI SAFAK- Turkey on one hand is in an election year and on the
other is seeking an active process in its relations with the European
Union. State Minister for the Economy and chief negotiator Ali Babacan
yesterday started a tour of Europe.

In a joint meeting of the French Assembly of Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (ACFCI) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities
Exchanges (TOBB), Turkey’s ties with both France and the EU were
taken up. TOBB head Rifat Hisarciklioglu, ACFCI head Jean-Francois
Bernardin and Babacan all delivered speeches to the gathering.

The government hopes to accelerate its reforms for Turkey’s EU bid
without being overcome by sluggishness due to the fall elections.

Babacan said that they see EU membership as a strategic goal and that
they will declare a new EU plan next month. "We can’t wait for all
27 EU member states to approve every chapter." he said. "We’re going
to introduce a seven-year plan in April which will set our goals for
every year." He added that the government had made important reforms
— including eight harmonization packages, with the ninth one now
before Parliament — and that Turkey has become a stronger country
with a stronger economy. Lamenting how the EU’s recent attitudes
made the Turkish public lose hope and support the EU process less,
he said despite this they would continue the reform process. Babacan
also underlined that Turkey’s accession would not only be in the EU’s
interest in terms of its security and strategic importance but would
also have a global impact.

Hisarciklioglu touched upon relations between France and Turkey.

Citing France’s declaration that 2009 is the Year of Turkey, he said
that they should ensure that Turkey is presented in a realistic way.

He also urged French investments in Turkey, especially in the energy
sector.

The head of the ACFCI expressed self-criticism in a range of fields
from relations between the two countries to the last fall’s law on
the so-called Armenian genocide, but was hopeful about the future of
relations. He said that these problems can be solved through dialogue
and that he believes good economic relations would certainly affect
the course of political relations.