Bagis touts Turkey's new EU push

Chief European Union talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday outlined Turkey's new efforts to target EU membership with domestic and international initiatives, including plans to promote EU values at home. "Sometimes the EU train slows down, sometimes it picks up speed, but I'm confident Turkey will complete what it needs to complete in a reasonable period of time," he told a group of influential journalists. Bagis spoke about Turkey's many frustrations and challenges, including continued blocking of the opening of accession negotiation chapters, covering various policy reforms Turkey must complete to bring its laws and regulations into harmony with EU norms. Greek Cyprus and France have taken the lead in stalling the negotiations process. A central stumbling block is Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, a step Turkey has said is contingent on the EU keeping its promises to ease the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus. There are problems, Bagis admitted, but said spats between the bloc and Turkey should not be allowed to overshadow the many successes this year and the opportunity for many more in 2010. Rather than "keep score by chapter openings or closings, we should keep score by the reforms we accomplish that bring us closer to the European Union," he said. "This year, Turkey unveiled its national program of proposed reforms in accordance with EU guidelines. Steps hailed in the European bloc included the launch of Kurdish-language broadcasts on state television. And the EU's annual progress report issued in October was probably the most positive ever.." He added, "Compared with past reports, this year's was much more balanced and reasonable." Bagis also underscored important changes within the EU itself that add momentum to Turkey's membership drive, including ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon. As the EU takes steps to become more of a global player, "the importance of Turkey to the EU grows every day," Bagis said. To boost domestic understanding and strengthen Turkey's position toward the EU, Bagis unveiled a host of locally focused initiatives, including an Interior Ministry plan to appoint a deputy governor for EU affairs in each of the country's 81 provinces. He also spoke of the creation of a panel of EU communications-strategy volunteers, made up of retired diplomats, students, academics and others, to explain and promote EU values at home. Another step will be the creation of a new Interior Ministry agency to boost border security and combat smuggling, drug trafficking, terror and other woes that affect the EU. Among the most important reforms pending in 2010 is the preparation of a long-delayed new constitution for Turkey. Bagis called on all political parties to submit drafts of the constitutional reforms they envision early next year so Parliament can begin working on a consensus document acceptable to all parties.