Ahead of fall EU progress report, Turkey aims to pass 17 reform bills

Eyeing the European Union's yearly progress report on Turkey's harmonization with EU laws, Parliament is hoping to pass 17 bills as soon as deputies return from summer recess in October. The report is usually released in either late October or November. According to State Minister and chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis, Parliament will prioritize legislation needed for the opening of the chapter on competition policy. The chapter requires regulations to establish separate organs that will manage and monitor state aid to comply with EU rules. The government has completed preparations for the establishment of a state aid monitoring and supervisory council along with a state aid general directorate. A bill for legislation to this end awaits Parliament's approval. The chapter on competition policy has long been one of the major hurdles in Turkey's accession talks with the Union, and the government plans to pass the bills before release of the report. One of the bills pending in Parliament would make comprehensive changes to radio and television broadcasting in Turkey. In a bid to make the judiciary swifter and more just, Parliament is also seeking to approve a bill on the Civil Procedural Code. A bill concerning the Court of Accounts on the auditing of state expenditures, including military spending, is also expected to be passed in Parliament by November.