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by **CBBB** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:09 am

08 July 2011, Friday
KLAUS JURGENS

This week Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced his Cabinet for the 2011-2015 term. For the first time ever the country has a full-fledged Ministry of European Affairs. At the helm: Egemen Bağış, well known and well respected both in Turkey and abroad.

It is the culmination of a much more complex process. A few years ago the debate began in Turkey about whether having a specific line ministry in charge of EU policies and harmonization makes sense. Some of those commentators who are strongly in favor of Turkey's EU accession, including myself, argued that shifting all responsibilities with regards to the membership negotiations to a single ministry may lead to other ministries becoming less EU-ready as they could easily claim that all things Europe are now being taken care of by someone else.

I have changed my opinion on this issue. As the 33+2 negotiation chapters (33 topical ones, plus one reserved for institutional affairs although not as of yet part of the accession talks (if ever) and one indeed left blank) cover almost all domestic policy-making areas, not only does each line ministry have the task to update legislation and standards in sync with EU acquis communautaire, but overall coordination is required, too. Hence, the new Ministry for European Union Affairs is a timely creation.

May I attest that Turkey's EU vocation is unwavering regardless of mixed signals as received from a number of capitals and sometimes Brussels itself? I hope so. There is simply no “axis shift” whatsoever! If establishing friendly neighborly relations in an entire region is misinterpreted as axis shift, the term would merit from a new definition.

Second, let us further assume that over time some of today's heads of state and government who now oppose Turkey's EU bid will have been replaced by more Turkey-friendly politicians.

Taking this into consideration one must raise a number of subjects.

First, the new ministry must flex all its muscles and let all fellow Cabinet members know that in order to complete the requirements as laid out in the EU accession negotiation documents each and every ministry must aim at fast-tracking updating legislation where required.

Second, fellow ministers and heads of departments may need a renewed confirmation about the fact that EU harmonization first and foremost benefits Turkey, not Paris or Copenhagen.

Third, fellow line ministers may wish to reiterate to their key staff that the actual contents of the body of EU law, or acquis, are not intended to harm a nation but to help to further improve its regulatory and policy-making framework. Let me give you a few examples. Think food safety and hygiene. Consider maximum loads for trucks. What about making impact analysis a prerequisite for all new large-scale projects and similarly all intended legislation? Shall we add the chemical industry and the task to better protect the environment as well as the end-user from health hazards, aka you and me? Then add corruption-free public procurement, competition policy and improved support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Think monetary and fiscal policies although the EU only gives broad guidelines about economic policies as such. The list of benefits even if measured against cost would easily turn into a book.

And then there is Cyprus… Minister Bağış could become instrumental in facilitating a solution with regard to solving the Cyprus impasse, too. Similar to EU accession, a reunified Cyprus is in the interest of all parties concerned, in particular the peoples of the island itself. He will know all too well that opening Turkish ports to vessels and craft registered in the Republic of Cyprus cannot be postponed for much longer. If the UN-sponsored talks are to lead to a solution before the summer of 2012, Turkey will have to adhere to the Ankara Protocol anyways straight thereafter. Alternatively, hoping Cyprus will be reunified first and that Turkey implements the Ankara Protocol later is a risky approach to policy making, to say the least.

What we should not forget is that Minister Bağış now has even greater authority to represent Turkey in all matters European. Brussels should listen, so should all other EU capitals. I wish him luck in running what may well turn out to be Turkey's most diversified yet perhaps one of the most important ministries, too.

http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/colu ... mnistId=97

by **B25** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:49 am

Err! Hello VP..... Your comments please.

Suck on that one, I bet your fantasy dream of Turkey not wanting EU has just blown up in your face, ha ha.

A new Ministry, ok, now tell us again, it's just turkey using the EU again, that was a good joke.

Me thinks you are in for a big surprise, better get the vasaline out gardash!!!!!!

by **Viewpoint** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:41 am

They are just going through the motions nothing will materialize at best on the 20th July when Prime Minister Erdogan visits the TRNC he will announce an offer to open the ports and parts of Maras for opening of all ports in the TRNC for international traffic. Even this is speculation.

by **Hermes** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 2:59 am

A Minister of Europe! VP must be worried sick! His worst nightmare is that Mummy Turkey abandons him and he is left all alone without his security blanket. The poor boy will be having nightmares about this!

Reh, VP. Sleep soundly tonight. No-one is coming for you.

Not yet anyway...

by **Viewpoint** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:28 pm

Hermes wrote:A Minister of Europe! VP must be worried sick! His worst nightmare is that Mummy Turkey abandons him and he is left all alone without his security blanket. The poor boy will be having nightmares about this!

Reh, VP. Sleep soundly tonight. No-one is coming for you.

Not yet anyway...

You know you shouldnt count your chickens before they hatch.