Friday, March 25, 2005

Turkish Daily News - Turkey and the EU: How to achieve a forward-looking and 'win-win' accession by 2015?

"Turkey and the EU: How to achieve a forward-looking and 'win-win' accession by 2015?
Friday, March 25, 2005

Analysis, Part IV


MEHMET OGUTCU

PARIS - TDN Guest Writer



How will the negotiations be held?
Given that never before have there been accession negotiations that were so controversial among EU member states and so charged with uncertainties and serious political and economic impediments than the Turkish accession, it is absolutely essential that both sides should agree on an imaginative, constructive problem-solving approach to produce a successful conclusion to this process. The discussions in Brussels clearly indicated that accession negotiations would not be on the basis of a �business-as-usual� mandate with an emphasis on the acquis communautaire and Turkey's ability to effectively apply it at the moment of entry into the EU. The attainment of European standards with respect to democratization and liberalization, as well as changing not only certain practices and legislation, but also the public and official mindsets would be the primary goal (Whither Turkey's EU Accession? Perspectives and Problems After December 2004, Heinz Kramer at http://www.aicgs.org/c/kramer_turkeys.html ). "

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