EU not to open negotiations with Turkey on two chapters

EU not to open negotiations with Turkey on two chapters
http://www.abhaber.com/news_page.asp?id=2535

The European Commission decided yesterday not to open negotiations with Turkey on public procurement and competition policy negotiation chapters, citing that Ankara has not yet even presented its "action plan."

In its report concerning the screening process of the public procurement chapter, the Commission criticized Ankara for not enacting the Public Procurement Law in Turkey. Apart from the law, the Commission also criticized Ankara for not even working on the chapter's "action plan." It has decided that at this stage, Turkey's current progress doesn't meet the required "chapter opening performance criteria."

Concerning the chapter on competition policy about which the European Union and Turkey have also finalized the screening process, the European Commission reached the same decision, paving way for it to suggest that talks on these chapters cannot yet be opened with Turkey.

Despite the deadlock in the public procurement and competition policy chapters, the EU decided late Wednesday to open negotiations on the education and culture chapter following months of tough debate over whether it should include political criteria or not.

Although no reference was made to political criteria in the letter sent to Turkey by Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency, the 25 nation-bloc maintained that it's a possibility that the issue could be reintroduced in the coming months when the EU defines its own negotiating position.

The text obtained by The New Anatolian said, "The EU underlines that the opening of this chapter depends on the negotiating positions of both parties and is without prejudice to future progress in the negotiations on this chapter." Political analysts have interpreted the move as a way to postpone the controversy rather than solve it altogether, since it opens the way for another discussion on whether to include political criteria in the coming months.

While diplomatic sources predicted that negotiations could begin during Austria's term of presidency if both Turkey and the EU increase the pace of their efforts, they added that the chapter on education and culture most probably will be opened during Finland's term of presidency. The sources also predicted that the pace of the accession process will increased in line with Turkish efforts, especially after opening the negotiating chapters.

EU's aid to Turkey under threat

Ankara also stepped up efforts to break the deadlock over an EU decision which might pave the way for the freezing of 1 billion euros in funds that was earmarked for Turkey.

Although the decision to shelve economic cooperation with Turkey was made citing claims that Ankara didn't fulfill its obligations, the commission postponed the meeting where a final decision is expected to be made, in order to give Turkey extra time to improve its situation.

The Commission, previously set to convene on April 26, will now convene on May 16 to discuss the issue.

Ankara has to increase the number of staff working in the Central Finance and Contracting Unit, and this unit should be brought under the authority of the Treasury before the deadline.
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