For the second time the Rafto Foundation, in collaboration with Kurdish Human Rights Project (UK), medico international (Germany) and Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, will arrange a two-day conference, September 19 – 20, 2005, debating the Turkish accession process to the EU. The conference in Brussels will focus on the human rights situation in Turkey, especially focusing on the conditions for the Kurdish people. (15-AUG-2005)
The President of the European Parliament, Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU Enlargement Commissioner Mr Olli Rehn and Kurdish expert Mr Peter Galbraith will all contribute to the conference as speakers. In addition, prominent Kurdish and Turkish representatives from different political and civil organisations have been invited and will contribute to the important conference in which human rights issues, including democratic and parliamentary reforms will be discussed.
The Rafto Foundation is represented by Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) and Hege Ekeland (EUTCC project assistant). Kariane Westrheim will give the opening speech at the conference, to be held in the EU Parliament in Brussels.
Below, please find more information about the establishment of the EU Turkey Civic Commission.
Background:
On December 17, 2004, the EU Council of Ministers decided to open accession talks with Turkey. The essential accession criteria for EU membership are the Copenhagen criteria, which state that new members must have achieved:
“stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities”.
On this basis, many civil society organisations in Turkey and Europe have considered it important to monitor the implementation by Turkey of European human rights standards and the rule of law in all phases of the accession negotiations.
The undersigned organisations sponsored a conference in November 2004 on “The EU, Turkey and the Kurds”:
. Rafto Foundation (Norway)
. Kurdish Human Rights Project (United Kingdom)
. Medico International (Germany).
The conference, held in the European Parliament in Brussels, passed a resolution to establish a standing civic commission. The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales has subsequently joined in sponsoring the establishment of the EU Turkey Civic Commission.
This EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) favours Turkish membership in the European Union. Provided the EU insists on full compliance, in law and in practice, with the Copenhagen criteria in all its aspects, Turkey will become a genuine democracy, with “respect for and protection of minorities”. This will resolve one of the most difficult political problems that Turkey has so far failed to even recognise and that have been a festering sore in Turkey for decades, namely the Kurdish problem.
The Commission wishes to contribute to the progress of Turkish membership of the EU. It will do this by spreading accurate, objective information both in Turkey and Europe about the progress made by Turkey, but also about any shortcomings which may still persist. The Civic Commission will have as one of its most important tasks to monitor Turkish compliance with the EU accession criteria.
