EU welcomes package, will follow implementation

ANKARA

The European Commission said it was looking forward to progress on these matters, including the full engagement of the opposition parties. DHA photo

The European Union said it welcomed the democratization package announced by the Turkish government and declared that it would feature in the forthcoming progress report to be announced in mid-October. 

“We have listened carefully to the announcement of Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan this morning and welcome his reference to the guiding role of the EU acquis communautaire in Turkey’s reforms. We are still waiting for the text to be released and will then examine the package in detail,” the commission said in a written statement today. 

“The announced measures hold out the prospect of progress on a range of important issues, including use of languages other than Turkish in a number of instances and minority rights such as the case of the Mor Gabriel Monastery. The measures also commit Turkey to addressing changes to the current high thresholds for representation in Parliament and to open up state financing of political parties, which should increase pluralism. We also hope that the announcement of a law on data protection will facilitate EU-Turkey cooperation in different areas,” it added. 

The European Commission said it was looking forward to progress on these matters, including the full engagement of the opposition parties. “The Commission will closely follow the translation of the proposals in concrete actions and follow up its implementation,” read the statement.