ID :
160394
Fri, 02/11/2011 - 17:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/160394
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European enlargement commissioner says EU to help Turkey overcome membership problems
ISTANBUL (A.A) Feb 11 - European commissioner for enlargement said on Friday that the European Union (EU) would help Turkey overcome the problems it was facing in membership issues.
Stefan Fule said Turkey was not alone and the EU would help Turkey eliminate the problems through political dialogue and financial assistance.
The EU had spent more than 80 million Euro since 2007 to develop civil society organizations, particularly in the West Balkans and Turkey, Fule said during a civil society congress in Istanbul.
The European Movement International (EMI) organized Istanbul Congress on "Civil Society Organizations challenge public authorities: From political commitment to active dialogue" in partnership with Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV).
In the congress at Istanbul's Bilgi University, more than 400 delegates from the civil society sector of candidate and potential candidate countries as well as from the European Union, together with representatives from National Parliaments, Governments and the European Union institutions, discuss and debate on how to best improve the relations between civil society and public authorities.
Speaking in the congress, Fule said they had inaugurated 32 projects to improve civil society on Thursday, and such initiatives would continue.
Fule said not only governments but also EU organizations should assume responsibilities to develop the role and power of civil societies, and underlined importance of adoption of new regulations and principles by the society.
Therefore, the EU expected the civil society to have more role in preparation of a new constitution in Turkey, Fule said.
Fule also said non-governmental organizations and citizens were working on a civilian constitution in Turkey, which the EU had welcomed.
At this moment in time where the Turkish democratic model is occasionally used as a reference in recent developments in the Arab world, the EMI hopes that the conclusions to be made in Istanbul will be valuable not only for the countries involved in the process of joining the EU but also for other neighboring countries in their evolution towards democracy.
The results of the congress shall lead to a "political strategy", providing recommendations to public authorities and addressing CSOs' claims for support and enhanced dialogue at the highest level.
The congress will end on Saturday.
Stefan Fule said Turkey was not alone and the EU would help Turkey eliminate the problems through political dialogue and financial assistance.
The EU had spent more than 80 million Euro since 2007 to develop civil society organizations, particularly in the West Balkans and Turkey, Fule said during a civil society congress in Istanbul.
The European Movement International (EMI) organized Istanbul Congress on "Civil Society Organizations challenge public authorities: From political commitment to active dialogue" in partnership with Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV).
In the congress at Istanbul's Bilgi University, more than 400 delegates from the civil society sector of candidate and potential candidate countries as well as from the European Union, together with representatives from National Parliaments, Governments and the European Union institutions, discuss and debate on how to best improve the relations between civil society and public authorities.
Speaking in the congress, Fule said they had inaugurated 32 projects to improve civil society on Thursday, and such initiatives would continue.
Fule said not only governments but also EU organizations should assume responsibilities to develop the role and power of civil societies, and underlined importance of adoption of new regulations and principles by the society.
Therefore, the EU expected the civil society to have more role in preparation of a new constitution in Turkey, Fule said.
Fule also said non-governmental organizations and citizens were working on a civilian constitution in Turkey, which the EU had welcomed.
At this moment in time where the Turkish democratic model is occasionally used as a reference in recent developments in the Arab world, the EMI hopes that the conclusions to be made in Istanbul will be valuable not only for the countries involved in the process of joining the EU but also for other neighboring countries in their evolution towards democracy.
The results of the congress shall lead to a "political strategy", providing recommendations to public authorities and addressing CSOs' claims for support and enhanced dialogue at the highest level.
The congress will end on Saturday.
