"Social aspects of Turkey’s preparations for EU accession
Vladimír Špidla
Member of the European Commission responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Conference 'Social dialogue as a tool to address the informal economy in Turkey'
Ankara, 5 March 2006
Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank the International Labour Organisation for organising today’s event, and I am very pleased to be here to talk to you today about the main challenges of social and employment policy.
Today’s conference provides an important opportunity for the social partners to put forward their ideas on this subject and to play a part in developing the social dialogue between employers and trade unions.
This meeting comes at just the right time: following the opening of accession negotiations last October, fresh impetus is now essential. The open and long-term process provided for in the framework for negotiations with Turkey should not take away from the fact that the reforms which have been introduced must be pursued rapidly and implemented effectively.
I would like to make one point clear from the outset: all of the measures which Turkey has planned with a view to improving the quality of jobs and social protection will be fully effective only if it also succeeds in incorporating the informal economy into the formal economy."
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