http://www.avrupa.info.tr/: Latest News

DECLARATION BY THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, CATHERINE ASHTON, ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA, 17 MAY 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:02:00 +0200

Brussels, 17 May 2013
170513/5 "On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, I wish to reaffirm the EU's commitment to equality and non–discrimination. In many countries, gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be used as the pretext for serious human rights violations. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people are still subject to persecution, discrimination and ill-treatment, and often extreme violence. The EU campaigns tirelessly for the respect of human rights, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. We raise the issue of LGBTI rights during our Human Rights dialogues, we speak out through public statements, and we work behind the scenes with our Delegations to argue the case for justice and human rights. Through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU supports LGBTI human rights defenders across the world. We welcome United Nations support for the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, in particular the ground-breaking June 2011 resolution 17/19 of the UN Human Rights Council. We encourage continued and strengthened efforts in this area."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION READY TO SUPPORT THE NEW OMBUDSMAN

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:20:00 +0200

Brussels (16th May) - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met with the new Turkish Ombudsman Nihat Ömeroğlu. Commissioner Füle expressed the support of the European Commission for the institution of Ombudsman and for the efforts of Mr Ömeroğlu in this very important position. "We believe that an independent and active Ombudsman is crucial for strengthening confidence of Turkish citizens in the functioning of the administration and the rule of law in the country. I appreciate that Mr Ömeroğlu sees his work in the context of Turkey´s efforts to become the member of the European Union," Commissioner Füle said after their first meeting in Brussels.

WITH K. KILIÇDAROGLU ON DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY-EU RELATIONS

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:01:00 +0200

Brussels (15th May) - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle met with president of the Turkish opposition Republican People's Party Kemal Kiliçdaroğlu in Brussels today. They discussed the recent political developments in Turkey and the EU accession process. Commissioner Füle stressed that the accession process is inclusive and requires participation of all the relevant stakeholders and he is attaching great importance to regularly meeting with democrats from the whole political spectrum in Turkey. He added that the EU remains the benchmark for reforms in the country and underlined the positive new momentum in the relations between the EU and Turkey offering chances for progress in the negotiations. Commissioner Füle and Mr Kiliçdaroğlu also exchanged views on important developments, such as the Kurdish peace talks, the process of drafting a new constitution, recently passed legal changes as well as the need for further reforms. "We agreed on the need for the accession negotiations to gain further momentum. Turkey needs to sustain its efforts to meet benchmarks for opening negotiating chapters. I listened carefully to concerns conveyed by Mr Kiliçdaroglu on fundamental rights, and we agreed that Turkey should also press ahead with the engaged political reforms," Commissioner Füle said after the meeting.

Statement on behalf of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:06:00 +0200

The EU High Representative was shocked by the callous attacks carried out in Reyhanli and appalled...]]> Read more >

European Commissioner László Andor to Visit Turkey

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:11:00 +0200

Mr László Andor, member of the European Commission responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion is paying an official three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul on 8-10 May 2013. The purpose of his visit is to reinforce the dialogue between the EU and Turkey on issues in his portfolio as well as financial cooperation. Chapter 19 on social policy and employment of the accession negotiations with Turkey will also be discussed. During his visit Commissioner Andor will meet with Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator H.E. Mr. Egemen Bağış, Minister for Labour and Social Security H.E. Mr. Faruk Çelik, Minister for National Education H.E. Mr. Nabi Avcı, and Minister for Development H.E. Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz. He will have discussions with representatives of social partners, with academics, and will participate in the 9 May Europe Day celebrations in Ankara organised by the EU Delegation. Commissioner Andor will also speak at an international conference held under the EU funded Increasing Girls' Enrolment Rates project, and will represent the European Commission in Istanbul at the Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Speech by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on the Future of Europe at the University of Helsinki

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:49:00 +0200

EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDENT
Helsinki, 7 May 2013
EUCO 109/13
PRESSE 179
PR PCE 95 I’m very pleased to be in Helsinki today and to have the opportunity to meet with so many of you. All the more since the day after tomorrow, 9th of May, is Europe’s day: our Union’s birthday so to speak, and a good time to take a moment to think about what Europe means to us, what we want it to be, where we want it to go. At times like these, when we are searching for the right way forward, it can be good to look back at the road travelled. Winston Churchill famously said, “the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see”. Our Union is not that old today, only 63, very young compared to most of our countries. But even if we can’t look back that far, there’s much inspiration to be found in those six decades. Since this one-day-in-May when Robert Schuman (he was foreign minister for France at the time) came up with a radical proposal to make war between our nations impossible. In time, this proposal would transform our continent. And when we look at the very recent, historic reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, steered by the Union's own Catherine Ashton, we can see that this magic is still at work. But never overnight. Step by step, through concrete achievements: that was always the method. It’s also good to remember these steps, also those to build the market, were always linked to concrete events and historic situations. It was true at the beginning in 1950, with a brilliant idea put forward in the context of the start of the Cold War. An encounter of vision and necessity. It was the same, years later, when your own country joined the endeavour, after the end of the Cold War. Then another acceleration of history set free the space east of the Iron Curtain. In that changed situation, first, your country joined our Union (together with Sweden and Austria of course); and then, a decade later, so did the countries that had been firmly in the Soviet grip. Since the start of the credit crisis in 2008 we live in another such transformative period, globally and in Europe. It is history in the making. The European Union has rarely been as central in public debate as it is today. Debates overshadowed by the financial crisis for sure, but at the same time debates that very much needed to happen. But I firmly believe that we will come out stronger from this experience. We’re learning not to take anything for granted. That we need to work harder to keep what we really care about. Our quality of life, our thriving economies, our position in the world. And that we also need to nurture our strongest assets: the shared freedom, the shared values and the close ties that bring together our countries, our peoples. To me, when the last dark clouds of the crisis will have cleared, and we will be able to look back more serenely at these tumultuous years, one major change will clearly stand out. How in the crisis, our countries will have come to realise the true extent of their interdependence. In a way, the leaders were the first to experience it, and your Prime-Minister can testify to that. Each time we gather around the table of the European Council, with 27 national leaders, the President of the Commission and myself, I perceive better how – notwithstanding all differences and divergences - we all experience this co-responsibility for our common future. And the best proof is in the decisions we take to that effect. And the citizens in all our countries have experienced, too, what it means to be in a Union. Hard truths had to be faced, and it was not always easy or pleasant. It was a moment of discovery, of ‘self-discovery’, of drawing the full consequences of our own earlier decisions (such as to establish a single currency). And we are doing that. Because the crisis made clear: the situation in one country can affect all the others. And we can’t allow that to happen again. That’s why there’s been so much work over the last few years to strengthen our common budgetary and economic rules, to set up better prevention and be able to better detect harmful bubbles and imbalances. The important realisation is that our countries can’t act or solve problems in isolation. We simply can’t ignore the situation of others or the impact our decisions can have on them, because they are our neighbours, our trading partners, our currency companions. It’s not always immediately visible, but we’re closely tied to one another, and we need to acknowledge that better. We mustn’t forget how much we benefit from these ties but also that they come with common duties. We design joint rules, and we owe it to ourselves and to others to abide by what we have agreed. We also set ourselves joint objectives, and there also we owe it to ourselves and to others to live up to these goals. One such goal is to patch the last holes in our common market, because we could benefit so much from doing so. “You don’t fall in love with a market” Jacques Delors used to say, even if it’s the biggest one in the world. But still, the single market is our lifeline. It’s what helped companies like Nokia to make it really big, and it’s still a goldmine of opportunities, especially for your generation. A source of freedom as much as of prosperity. And access-to-it is a much sought-after prize, for our partners in the world, from China to the United States. Acknowledging our ties; respecting the rules we have agreed; pursuing our common goals. That’s what it takes to belong to a Union. One thing it doesn’t imply though is merging into a single identity. It doesn’t mean giving up what makes all our countries special and unique. Rather, it means acknowledging and cherishing the fact that along our other identities –national, local, maybe regional – we also have a European identity. Not ‘instead of’ of course, but ‘on top of’. As Vaclav Havel once said, if we all have our homeland, Europe can be “the homeland of homelands”. Perhaps it is already obvious to your generation. The Erasmus generation. Why, the most famous Finnish Erasmus student is sitting right next to me on this stage! Today, Prime Minister Katainen is the only one at the European Council. But by the time your generation takes over, I expect most leaders around the table will have shared this experience in one way or another. In many respects, you are lucky to belong to a generation with wider horizons than any before. Your awareness of the world goes way beyond your own ‘world’ in which you grew up. Your Europe is and must remain one of openness. A Europe open to change and keen to widen its horizons further. Because in this fast-evolving world, we need to be able to adapt just as fast as the world around us. There are global challenges – emerging economies, an ageing population, technological revolutions, and ALL our countries have to face them. Those up here in the North and those in the South, those in the East and those and the West. So within the Union we must avoid superficial clichés. That of (good) hardworking Northerners en (bad) lazy Southerners, or that of (good) generous Southerners and (bad) selfish Northerners. As a Belgian, a small country with its own North and South, I know all these clichés by heart! For one thing, weak growth or youth unemployment are not the monopoly of the South… Our countries are together by choice, for a reason. Not through fatality but rather to defeat fatality. To build something bigger together, rather than just coexist. To build this, so that we can preserve the quality of life and the wealth of opportunities that our continent can offer. A place where innovation happens every day, and where its benefits are widely shared. Where people live long and healthy lives, in some of the freest, most prosperous, but also most equal and secure societies in the world. It’s definitely worth the effort, and I dearly hope that your generation will take up the effort! Thank you. Click here to watch the President's speech.

Declaration by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union on the Occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2013

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:17:00 +0200

THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 3 May 2013
9232/13
PRESSE 181 On the 20th anniversary of World Press Freedom day, the EU pays tribute to journalists worldwide who dedicate their lives - sometimes at great personal cost - to reporting events or expressing views that many might prefer to silence. A free, independent and vibrant press is indispensable in any democratic society. The EU is determined to fight for press freedom worldwide and condemns the increasing level of intimidation, violence and censorship that journalists face in many countries. The EU calls on all governments to allow journalists to work in safety and security, and without the fear of censorship or prosecution. Freedom of expression must be defended both in the traditional media and on the Internet. The EU will continue to promote freedom of expression on-line and offline, not least as new information technologies can be key in promoting human rights and democracy. The EU will continue to condemn violations of the right to freedom of expression in all media with a view to ensuring that journalists across the world can discharge their professional duties without hindrance.

Speech by Ambasador Ripert, "Sivil Düşün" EU Programme Kick-off Event

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:17:00 +0200

Civil Society Facility
"Sivil Düşün" EU Programme
Kick off event
16/4/2013

Dear activists, dear colleagues, dear friends,

As you know, the European Union is, since the Lisbon Treaty of 2009, a Union based on common values and interests. The Rule of Law, democracy, Human rights are the core of those values thanks to which 500 million people have enjoyed a degree of peace, freedom and prosperity never achieved in their past.

And all citizens are clearly aware that they have to engage personally in the protection and the promotion of these rights to ensure that, despite the current financial and economic difficulties, they will continue to fully benefit from all of them. Civil Society is thus one of the essential pillars of our Societies and of our collective commitment to democracy.

And since we believe that Turkey is all the same committed to the "Copenhagen criteria" - one of the reason of its candidate status - we would like to assist in the promotion of a full-fledged democracy, protective of the rights of all its citizens and allowing them to participate actively in all aspects of public life.

In the accession process, the EU seeks therefore - in Turkey like in all other candidate countries - to engage directly with Civil Society and not only with the government and the bureaucracy (Positive Agenda).

It doesn't mean that we oppose both. But we are aware of the respective role that elected authorities - at the national and local level -, civil servants and Civil society have to play to make the accession process of Turkey a success. We are convince that without the participation of all of them and without their cooperation, we face the risk of a serious slow down.

* * *

This is why I am particularly happy to welcome you all today at the EU Delegation, in our EU house where you are always most welcome. I also want to greet those who could not join us here in Ankara and who are following us through the video on the internet! Welcome to you all!

Today, the EU and Civil Society in Turkey are embarking on a new journey during which we hope we will, together, build on our common dreams. While recognising the importance of our past cooperation, and its positive achievements, we like to see a new beginning in the start of "Sivil Düşün" the new EU Civil society programme.

This process started several years ago, during which the EU tried to MEET, NETWORK, PROMOTE & SUPPORT Civil Society in Turkey. This was done through permanent and direct dialogue between the EU colleagues and various actors of Civil society and also through more traditional projects supporting, throughout the country, many organisations involved in almost all sectors of activity.

But we were convinced that the time had come for a new programme. "Sivil Düşün" has been designed with the input of activists, of volunteers, of CSOs, in other words with your input and together with you. As a result, the new programme is different from anything you have seen before.

"Düşün" means "dream" and "think" at the same time. Therefore, "Sivil Düşün" is a programme that invites you to think and dream. It will be as flexible as possible, in order to allow the beneficiaries to realise activities that were not possible under our past traditional programmes.

This is not only the will of the EU in Turkey, but also of our colleagues in Brussels, who are promoting a similar process in all other enlargement countries as well. They supported us much in Turkey and they are here with us today to share this important moment with you and us.

* * *

So, how is Sivil Düşün different? Is it really a revolution? If I have to define it in one sentence, I would say that "Sivil Düşün" is first and foremost a tool in your hand, that you can use to make your dream come true.

You want to take part in a conference on women rights to exchange with other activists from Turkey or other countries (meet)?

Your organisation needs a website to support the rights of people with disabilities (support)?

You want to share the amazing results you have already achieved in the field of children rights (promote)?

You need a strong cooperation with other LGBT CSOs to make your action stronger? (network).

"Sivil Düşün" can concretely assist you in realising all of the above, in the short term - by covering immediate small needs - or in the long run, to consolidate partnerships, platforms and networks. Clearly, "Sivil Düşün" is moving away from the traditional project approach. So just go for it, "SİVİL DÜŞÜNÜN"- "THINK CIVIL"! Drive it according to your needs.

I will not go myself into the details of how the programme will work. We have with us tonight some great artists who will help us explaining "Sivil Düşün". They will probably surprise you, they may even go border-line, but we hope this will convince you of our willingness to innovate in our cooperation with you.

And if you still want to know more, the "Sivil Düşün" Team, the technical experts and the colleagues in the EU Delegation will always be ready to listen and help.

One last word: we count on you to help us promoting The new programme with those who could not be here today. Spread the word, from mouth to ear, but also "tweet" "Sivil Düşün" on twitter, "Like it" on Facebook, "Post it" on Youtube ! "Share" Sivil

Once again, thank you for being with us today and now let's enjoy the show!

ADOPTION OF THE 4th JUDICAL PACKAGE

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0200

STATEMENT BY COMMİSSİONER ŠTEFAN FÜLE ON THE ADOPTION BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT OF THE LEGISLATION ON ANTI-TERROR Brussels (12th April) - ‘The adoption by the parliament of the long-awaited legislation on anti-terror, which will align the Turkish law with European standards is overall a very positive development. I expect it will address a number of issues on fundamental rights that were a source of concern over the past years in Turkey. While I understand the focus of the 4th Judicial Reform package is on compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings, I note with regret the omission of conscientious objection in the package. My understanding is that the outstanding points will be included in the forthcoming Human Rights Action Plan, which I hope will be finalised very soon. The Commission will assess the legislation and its implementation in detail and will properly reflect it in our forthcoming progress report in autumn. I commend the efforts of the Turkish government, in particular of Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, which have made this achievement possible.’

Union for the Mediterranean: EP Hosts Debate on the Way Forward After the Arab Spring

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:33:00 +0200

External relations − 12-04-2013 - 12:48 Strengthening democracy, the role of parliaments and civil society as well as empowering women were the main issues discussed at the Union for the Mediterranean's parliamentarian assembly hosted by the EP on 11 and 12 April. The debate focused on the way forward in the wake of the Arab Spring. Security, environment and boosting cooperation between both shores of the Mediterranean were also on the agenda. EP president Martin Schulz participated in the plenary session. "Governments do not do enough for the Mediterranean to become an area of cooperation," he said in his opening speech. "It is our role as members of parliaments to force governments to make good on their pledges towards the Union for the Mediterranean." Mr Schulz also attended the summit of the Union's parliament speakers in Marseilles on 6-7 April. After this summit, he said: "Euro-Mediterranean cooperation will be among parliaments and citizens, or it will be nothing. It needs a renewed partnership among strong and transparent parliaments."

New Call for Proposals Published for the Sivil Düşün EU Programme (Civil Society Facility Turkey Programme)

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:06:00 +0200

The Delegation of the European Union to Turkey has launched a new Call for Proposals under Sivil Düşün EU Programme (Civil Society Facility Turkey Programme) a civil society support programme aimed at contributing to promote democratic values and structures, human rights, social inclusion and the rule of law, thereby supporting the EU integration process. The specific focus of the Sivil Düşün EU Programme is to improve the environment for active citizenship and to strengthen the capacity of organised active citizens in the country. Sivil Düşün is a long term programme with different support mechanisms, targeting activists, civil society organisations, networks and platforms. To achieve these objectives, Sivil Düşün comprises a grant scheme to support networks and platforms, micro-sub grants (financial support to third parties) and direct support to activists. For more information on the Sivil Düşün EU Programme please visit www.sivildusun.eu.

The total budget of the 2013 Call for Proposals is 1.75 Million Euros divided into two specific objectives:

Specific objective 1: to contribute to the strengthening of capacities of existing or new national, regional (in the sense of regions within Turkey), local and/or thematic platforms and networks of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to give citizens a voice and influence public sector reform processes through their activities.
Specific objective 2: to strengthen CSOs in order to enhance civic participation at local and national levels through distribution of micro sub-grants (financial support to third parties) to rights-based CSOs.

It is an open call for proposals. Therefore both concept notes and full application forms should be submitted for evaluation by 17 June 2013. For further information on this Call for Proposals and the application forms please click here. For Turkish translation please click here. Think Civil Call for Proposals, Guidelines for applicants (in Turkish)

EU-Turkey: With Ministers Bağış and Çelik about Social Policy and Employment

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:11:00 +0200

European Commission MEMO Brussels, 10 April 2013 Brussels (10th April) - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, together with Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor, met with Turkish Minister of EU Affairs Egemen Bağış and Minister of Labour and Social Security Faruk Çelik in Brussels today. The meeting took place in the framework of the Positive agenda and is part of the overall efforts to put the accession negotiations with Turkey back on track. They discussed the progress in the accession process and also the support Turkey is providing to Syrian refugees. In discussing the progress of Turkey in the accession process, Commissioners Füle and Andor focused in particular on the area of social policy and employment. They welcomed progress made as regards trade union rights for both the public and the private sector with the adoption of two laws in 2012 by the Turkish Parliament. It was agreed that the European Commission and Turkey would continue to work in close cooperation on further alignment of the Turkish legal framework with EU standards and the opening benchmarks for Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment) of the accession negotiations. The Commission welcomed as a good step the declaration made on these issues today by Ministers Bağış and Çelik with the social partners, who were also present at the joint meeting with the Commissioners. In the context of the Syrian crisis Commissioner Füle recalled the Commission's commitment to assist Turkey in its efforts using also the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA). The European Commission announced the intention to allocate around €10 million for an IPA joint operation with UNHCR expected to start in the coming months. These funds will mainly benefit Syrian refugees who are not living in tent or container camps established by the Turkish government but in areas outside the camps. This action is being developed in coordination with the national institutions concerned, international NGOs functioning in Turkey and other UN agencies.

Joint statement by Commissioners Štefan Füle and Cecilia Malmström on the Adoption by the Turkish Parliament of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:58:00 +0200

Brussels, 5 April 2013 ''The Commission welcomes the adoption yesterday by the Turkish Parliament of the law on foreigners and international protection. This law is a clear sign of Turkey’s efforts to establish a sound legal and institutional framework for migration and asylum. This law and the institutions that it provides for indicate Turkey’s clear commitment to build an effective migration management system in line with EU and international standards. In this context the Commission also welcomes the advanced steps taken by Turkey in the field of respect of human rights. It is also worth noting that the adoption of these key reforms takes place amid substantial and commendable efforts deployed by Turkey to provide assistance and protection to a very high number of people fleeing the conflict in Syria. The Commission is confident that, once properly implemented, this law will also address several issues identified in the Commission Roadmap for visa liberalisation which will constitute the basis for the visa liberalisation dialogue once this will start. The Commission is ready to extend its support with all necessary instruments to Turkey in its quest to reshape its migration and asylum management.'' Contacts: Michele Cercone +32 498 982 349 - +32 2 298 09 63 - Michele.Cercone@ec.europa.eu
Peter Stano +32 460/757 484 - +32 2 295 74 84 - Peter.Stano@ec.europa.eu
Tove Ernst - +32 2 298 67 64 - Tove.Ernst@ec.europa.eu
Anca Paduraru +32 498/966 430 - +32 2 296 64 30 - Anca.Paduraru@ec.europa.eu
Official information of the European Commission is available at any time at:
Les informations officielles de la Commission européenne sont accessibles à tout moment sur:
http://europa.eu/rapid/ If you no longer wish to receive esPRESSos, please send an e-mail to:
Si vous souhaitez ne plus recevoir les esPRESSos, envoyez un courriel à:
comm-espresso-unsubscribe@ec.europa.eu European Commission - Spokespersons' Service - adress: B-1049 - Brussels - Belgium:
Commission européenne - Service des Porte-parole - adress: B-1049 - Bruxelles - Belgique:
Tel: +32 2 299 11 11

Open Consultation - Improving Procedures for Obtaining Short-stay ‘Schengen’ Visas

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:48:00 +0200

Have you obtained a short-stay ‘Schengen’ visa over the past three years? The Commission is reviewing the procedures for issuing these visas and would like to hear your views on your experience. The idea is to modernise the policy and your input via this public consultation will help us to make the right changes. The legislation ( Regulation No 810/2009 Visa Code ) on issuing short-stay visas for travel in the Schengen area (the ‘Visa Code’) has now been in force for three years. Now the Commission wants to assess whether the legislation has achieved its objectives. Building on this evaluation, the Commission plans to propose amendments to revise the Visa Code and to further develop and modernise the common visa policy. Among the aims of this review are to ensure that EU visa policy fosters economic growth and cultural exchange by facilitating the process for legitimate travellers to the EU, such as business people, tourists, students and young people, while ensuring a high level of security for the EU. That is why the Commission wants to hear from the main ‘users’ of the common visa policy: individuals, interest groups, advocacy groups and professional organisations. We want to hear from as broad a range of users as possible, as it is important to get views and input from all stakeholders.

Individuals: Tell us about your experience by replying to our questionnaire. You do not need to answer all of the questions. However, for your response to be taken into account, all questions under ‘Your Profile’ need to be answered. If you have any concerns regarding data protection matters, please consult the Privacy Statement.
Organisations: Send written contributions on the issues covered in the questionnaire or on any other issue linked to the implementation of the Visa Code. Organisations are also invited to encourage individual members to reply to the questionnaire. Please send your contributions to: Home-Consultation-C2@ec.europa.eu

Important note: The Visa Code and the common visa policy cover only short stay visas (‘Schengen visas’ for stays of 90 days/180 days) and are applied by 22 EU Member States (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden) and four associated states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). This consultation only concerns issues related to Schengen short stay visas. It does not apply to issues concerning long stay visas or residence permits. If you have any questions about this consultation, please feel free to e-mail us at: Home-Consultation-C2@ec.europa.eu. Disclaimer: Please note that this consultation is intended to gather information and suggestions, and does not prejudge the final form of any decision the European Commission may take. Please read the privacy statement. Open Consultation: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-is-new/public-consultation/2013/consulting_0025_en.htm

Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Following her Meting with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:44:00 +0200

EUROPEAN UNION
Ankara, 03 April 2013
A 184/13 Minister Davutoğlu, can I first of all thank you so much for your hospitality. It is the first time that you and I have actually met in your capital and later I will have the privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan which I'm much looking forward to. You and I meet all over the world and whenever we do we have a great deal to discuss - today is no exception. And like you I apologise to the press that we kept you waiting. It's because the quality of our discussions is extremely high and the amount of information we wish to share is very large.
This, for me as the representative for foreign policy of the European Union, is a demonstration of the vital importance of Turkey and of our work across the world and especially across the region. You have rightly described our discussions on bilateral issues. These are of enormous importance and I am both the conveyor and carrier of messages to and from my colleagues in the European Commission and of course of the different Councils who take specific interest in the issues of the day. As you know, I'm committed to seeing Turkey progress in its relationship with the European Union. We also talked about our neighbourhood a great deal - our neighbourhood in terms of the South and of course the East. I was able to the debrief you on the dialogue for normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo that ended last night very late and I now wait to see with what Pristina and Belgrade will come back to me having had a little time, which they do need, to be able to consider the proposals before them. I'm very grateful for the support that you have always shown for the work that we do, not just in the dialogue but in all of our work in the Western Balkans. Inevitably our focus was on what’s happening in Syria, our concern for the refugees who are coming into countries, not least into Turkey, and I want to pay tribute to the efforts that Turkey has made to look after people in real distress, people whose lives have been shattered changed forever and who look to you for support and help. I reaffirm the commitment of the European Union to work with you to try and offer as much support as we possibly can. We talked too about the challenges we face for the future and the challenges we face in the present - how best to find the political solution that we all know we have to find in the end and how best to support the people of Syria into that future. It is absolutely right to recognise the role Turkey has played, and the important and vital role that you’ve played in the region. And as you said, Minister Davutoğlu, we also talked more broadly about my discussions with Iran which will take place in the next couple of days in Kazakhstan. I look forward to what I hope will be a successful meeting in Almaty and I really do hope that Iran will now carefully consider the proposal we put on the table and respond to it. From Kazakhstan I will go on to Eygpt, where I will be continuing with the messages that you and I have also discussed about the need to ensure that there is a better and growing economy in Eygpt, but also that there are political challenges that need to be addressed. Thank you

HRVP Ashton Travels to Turkey

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:12:00 +0200

Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, visits Turkey today. In Ankara she will meet Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Davutoğlu for comprehensive discussions on a broad range of issues, including bilateral relationship between the European Union and Turkey as well as a number of foreign policy issues. "I am very much looking forward to the meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Turkey is a key partner of the EU in the region, especially when dealing with difficult foreign policy challenges like the crisis in Syria. I also believe that this year we have a chance to build momentum on Turkey's EU track," said Catherine Ashton ahead of the visit. Audio-visual material from the visit will be available on EBS.
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm Maja KOCIJANCIC
Spokesperson of HR/VP Catherine Ashton
Berlaymont (1/328)/EEAS floor 6
Phone: +32.2.298.65.70
Mobile: +32.498.98.44.25
maja.kocijancic@ec.europa.eu
EEAS: www.eeas.europa.eu
Twitter: www.twitter.com/eu_eeas or @AshtonSpox_Maja
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanExternalActionService

INTERVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2013-2014 ACADEMIC YEAR JEAN MONNET SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

The Jean Monnet Evaluation Committee has evaluated the results of the written exam taken on 27 January 2013 within the framework of the 2013-2014 academic year Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme and has determined the list of candidates eligible to be interviewed between the dates from 15 April-13 May 2013. The names of eligible candidates with the date and time can be seen in the alphabetical list hereunder. Interview Announcement

A Wave of Citizenship in the Mediterranean

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:34:00 +0200

By Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President in Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures. This op-ed was published in Cumhuriyet daily on 3 April 2013. The Mediterranean stands torn between renewal and crisis. New political, social and cultural realities struggle through the pain of birth. To north and south there is a palpable sense of expectation and uncertainty, and no clear path to follow. The debt crisis in Europe has shaken people, politics and institutions and resulted in rampant unemployment that particularly affects the youth. The political costs are witnessed in an increasing sense of impotence, an increasing distrust towards politics and a worrying increase in intolerance against people of different beliefs or ethnicity. Along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean, the ousting of previous authoritarian regimes has opened up a challenging arena in which competing actors are struggling to create an inclusive political transition. Meanwhile, the unbearable Israeli-Palestinian impasse remains, only overshadowed by the tragedy of the 80,000 dead in Syria. A new Mediterranean impetus built around our shared space and values is badly needed. The openings are there, and so is the political and economic rationale. And the political will? Between the 4th and 7th of April, the Anna Lindh Mediterranean Forum will be held in Marseille, Europe's 2013 Capital of Culture, with the participation of more than 1000 civil society organisations and institutions from all 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). On the 6-7th of April, building on the findings of the Forum, the first Summit of Heads of Parliament of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held, still in Marseille. More than 40 Speakers of Parliaments from the EU and Mediterranean countries will attend the gathering. This will be a landmark moment, the first high-level political gathering of the UfM since the 2008 Paris Summit. The objective is clear: as much as Euro-Mediterranean cooperation is built on the principle of three Ms: money, mobility and markets, so political dialogue should be constructed on three Ps: People, Parliaments and Participation. The successful re-launching of Euro-Med dialogue must centre on the mobilisation of civil society, of the citizens for the Mediterranean. The recent Anna Lindh Foundation/Gallup Survey on Intercultural Trends has demonstrated that the citizens around this shared sea are increasingly interested in the politics, economics and cultures of their neighbours. The Survey, the first Euro-Med Opinion-Poll carried out following the uprisings in North Africa, also reveals that citizens on both shores of the Mediterranean think the Arab Awakening will have an overall positive impact on Euro-Med relations. But beyond polls, the mass mobilisation on both sides of the Mediterranean show that citizens will not accept to be sidelined in the governance of their countries. The toppling of entrenched regimes in North Africa eroded the prevailing assumptions that the outside world held in regard to Arab societies. And while values may be shared, the challenges too are the same and they need to be clearly identified for what they are. Economic instability, social inequality, youth unemployment and environmental degradation, affect us all and must be treated as common issues. In the struggle to rebuild fractured societies, to create new democracies, the way forward must be centred upon these issues and on common tangible projects. If anything is clear from the society-shaking events experienced in the region, it is that governmental structures and other traditional sources of community authority need to be brought back to dealing with and for citizens. There must be a genuine partnership that implies shared ownership and a community of interests. Systems of power that merely feed the old system will not work. In an international situation where economic and material resources are ever scarcer, the public must have a strong ownership on the priorities which are chosen. The potential of the region’s abundant youthful energy and dynamism, coupled with its entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, is enormous. We need to address the issues which have undermined previous attempts at building a union for the peoples of the Mediterranean. Top-down solutions will not work. Mediterranean partnership must be for the citizens, from the citizens and to the citizens.

Re-launching of the Union for the Mediterranean by Parliamentary Initiative: Martin Schulz Convenes the first Summit of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the UfM

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:54:00 +0200

Brussels - 27 March 2013 Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President-in-Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, will welcome the Speakers of the Parliaments of the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean in Marseille on 6 and 7 April. The summit, convened at the initiative of President Schulz, will be the first high-level meeting since the summit of the heads of state and government of the UfM held in Paris in 2008 and the first regional meeting since the Arab Spring. Announcing the event, President Schulz said: "This summit will be an opportunity to show that Parliaments are ready to fill the political leadership gap from which the UfM has suffered in recent years. We, the Speakers/Presidents of the Parliaments, would like to underline the importance of giving an impetus to the implementation of UfM projects at a time of major regional political and economic upheaval. We also need to re-forge the link between people on both sides of the Mediterranean and respond to their common expectations. If the challenge of democratic transition which is under way in some Mediterranean countries is successfully to be met, we will need strong, effective parliaments which listen to their citizens." The summit will continue the work of the civil forum organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation at the Pharo’s Palace in Marseille from 4 to 7 April. The forum will bring together around a thousand representatives of civil societies, young people, artists, locally-elected officials and economic players from both sides of the Mediterranean. The Speakers of the Parliaments will receive proposals from the forum and will draw up their own recommendations to be put to the governing bodies of the Union for the Mediterranean. Programme of the Marseille summit: Sunday, 7 April 2013, Villa Méditerranée 09.00 Opening speech - Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and President-in-Office of the Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM 09.10 Presentation of the conclusions of the Forum of local and regional authorities of the Mediterranean - Michel Vauzelle, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Special Envoy for the Mediterranean of the President of the French Republic 09.20 Presentation of the conclusions of the Mediterranean Civil Forum - André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation 09.30 Exchange of views by the Speakers of the Parliaments of the UfM 11.00 Debate and adoption of Summit declaration 12.00 Closure of the Summit 13.00 Press conference (auditorium) Background The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean is the parliamentary institution of the ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean’. It was formed in Naples on 3 December 2003 and has the following remit: • to boost the development of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
• to monitor the actions and projects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership;
• to adopt resolutions and recommendations for the Union for the Mediterranean’s ministerial conferences. The Parliamentary Assembly of the UfM is made up of MPs/MEPs appointed by the national parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, the national parliaments of the Mediterranean partners and the European Parliament. The next plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean will be held in Brussels on 11 and 12 April 2013. The main objectives of the Union for the Mediterranean concern energy and the environment: water (for example the Gaza desalination plant), solar energy, the environment (cleaning up the Mediterranean) and the Mediterranean Maritime Highway are the specific objectives for the cooperation between the member countries of the UfM. Note to editors: Mediterranean Forum of the Anna Lindh Foundation:
http://www.annalindhforum.org/fr Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/paufm/default.htm Marseilles, European Capital of Culture 2013:
http://www.mp2013.fr/# Press contact for information: François Arnaud: francois.arnaud@ep.europa.eu
Giacomo Fassina: giacomo.fassina@ep.europa.eu Press contact for accreditation to the Summit on 7 April:
Press service of the regional Council PACA: servicedepresse@regionpaca.fr / Fax : +33 (0)4 91 57 51 53. Please indicate your press card number, the name of your media, your identity card or passport number.

“Growing Together: International Conference on Cohesion Policy” Address by Ambassador Jean-Maurice RIPERT Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:43:00 +0100

(Ankara - 28 March 2013) Distinguished Minister,
Distinguished Deputy Ministers,
Dear Ambassadors and Colleagues,
Distinguished Undersecretaries,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a privilege to be here with you today at this very important and timely conference to discuss the European Cohesion Policy and its power to generate economic growth and stability both in the EU member states and the candidate countries.
Commissioner Johannes Hahn, in charge of Regional Policy, was unfortunately unable to be with us today, but I am happy to address you on his behalf. This Conference is a great opportunity for Turkey and other candidate countries to share their experiences, to draw the lessons from the implementation of current IPA programmes, and to voice their expectations for the next seven years (from 2014 to 2020) of pre-accession assistance.
And, having in mind the opening of Chapter 22 "Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments" in Turkey's accession negotiations, we may also search for ways in which lessons learnt at this conference can contribute to this common goal of ours. We all want to accelerate the pace of the accession process, and we have reasons to believe that 2013 - "a new year of trust" in Prime Minister Erdogan's words - will bring significant progress, thanks to an ever strong commitment to our common endeavor shown by both Turkey and the European Union. The EU is supporting Turkey, like other candidate countries, on its path towards EU accession, both politically and financially: we engage in a political dialogue - particularly on the reforms conducted by Turkey to implement fully the "Copenhagen criteria" -, we conduct technical negotiations, and we back up this process with a substantial financial allocation, close to one billion Euros annually from the EU budget, to help Turkey's alignment with European legislation and standards. * * *
Speaking of the financial aspects of our cooperation, I am pleased to reiterate that:

pre-accession financial assistance to Turkey will reach € 6 billion in the period between 2002 and 2013;

the annual allocation (over 900 million Euros this year alone) is the biggest from the EU to any country in the world;

our active portfolio in Turkey includes more than 200 ongoing projects worth some € 2 billion.

Turkish and international observers agree that the perspective of EU accession, together with the Customs Union, has contributed to Turkey's impressive economic growth and to the extent of macro-economic stabilisation we have seen over the last decade. It has helped focus minds and has inspired confidence, bringing in much-needed trade (40% of Turkey’s trade is with the EU) and foreign investment from EU countries (nearly 80% of foreign direct investments in Turkey).
This is what you would call a win-win situation. Dear Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Our relationship, like our life, is not just about trade and investment; it is also about intensive cultural and educational exchanges: over 55.000 Turkish exchange students and academics participated last year in the education and research programmes of the European Union. Turkey is the largest beneficiary country of those programmes. I mentioned our negotiations and our political dialogue. I would like to stress that we are also hopeful about possibilities of closer cooperation on visas and migration, which will be triggered by the signing of the already agreed readmission agreement and the opening of a broader dialogue on visas, migration and mobility. * * *
Closer to the conference's topic, we are looking forward to opening Chapter 22 (on regional cooperation) for negotiations in the first half of this year, during the Irish Presidency.
I have strong hopes that the Intergovernmental Conference tentatively scheduled for the 21st of June will be a milestone and a breakthrough in Turkey's EU accession talks, marking the opening of the first chapter for negotiations in almost three years. Such a development can only have a positive spillover effect in other areas of cooperation and negotiation. Turkey is already well advanced in Chapter 22: the Screening Report was presented and discussed several years ago in the Council.
The "acquis communautaire" in this chapter consists mostly of framework regulations which do not require transposition into national legislation. They define rules for planning, approving and implementing the Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes. With a green light from the Irish Presidency, the discussions could now continue. Turkey has made progress in Chapter 22 since the Screening Report was presented. Still, specific gaps need to be addressed in the establishment of institutional and administrative capacities as well as implementation systems and procedures. On 11 March, just a few weeks ago, Turkey submitted its Action Plan, focusing on Legislative framework; Institutional framework; Administrative capacity; Programming; Monitoring and evaluation; Financial management and control.
This Action Plan is currently being assessed by the Commission Services. Dear Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me now speak briefly about the framework of our future financial cooperation under the Instrument for Pre Accession for the period 2014-2020 (IPA II).

A Country Strategy Paper (CSP) will identify the main priority sectors for pre-accession funding over the seven-year period, in line with the candidate countries' needs and capacities. It will also offer an indicative allocation of IPA funds.

To prepare this Country Strategy Paper, we have invited our Turkish partners to prepare an assessment of their priorities. The Ministry of EU Affairs will play a leading role, with the strong support of the Ministry of Development working on an update of the National Development Plan.

We will start a formal consultation process in a matter of weeks to finalise the CSP text by the end of 2013 so that the Commission can adopt it in the beginning of 2014.

One last word on IPA II: we do not know yet what will be the final amount of funds allocated to the instrument - and to Turkey – by the member States, the European parliament and the Commission.
But we know that we will have to concentrate on a reduced number of priority sectors, closely linked to the alignment process and where those funds can really make a difference. Dear Minister,
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Cohesion Policy is important in overcoming the effects of the economic crisis, both at the European and national level. At the same time, its effectiveness and performance can and should be improved.
This need is reflected in the new post-2014 policy principles of smart, sustainable and socially inclusive investments. Thematic concentration, conditionality and more results based on quantifiable targets, milestones and relevant data should help us implement cohesion policy better. These principles are as valid for the EU Member States as for the candidate countries.
In this respect, I hope this conference will produce fruitful discussions of EU Cohesion Policy and its effect on the economic and social cohesion of new Member States and candidate countries, as well as of the priorities of the 2014-2020 period and how they reflect on candidate countries. We are all eager to hear about the experiences of Turkey and other candidate countries and their expectations for the years ahead.
I wish you all a good discussion and a positive conclusion. Thank you for your attention.