Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on:

- the 'Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries`,

- the 'Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the third phase of the Youth for Europe programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries`, and - the 'Proposal for a Decision of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Leonardo programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries` () (97/C 158/10)

On 30 January 1997 the Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 23(3) of its Rules of Procedure, decided to draw up an opinion on the above-mentioned proposals.

The Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 20 and Rule 50 (urgency procedure), decided to appoint Mrs Cassina as Rapporteur-General.

At its 344th plenary session (meeting of 20 March 1997) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 88 votes to 15, with 22 abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. The Commission proposal (COM(96) 199 final of 13 May 1996) calls on the Council to amend the basic Decisions relating to the Leonardo, Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes, so as to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries. The Council Decision relating to the Leonardo programme (6 December 1994) and the Parliament and Council Decisions relating to the Socrates programme and the third phase of the Youth for Europe programme (14 March 1995) pave the way for opening up these programmes to the associated countries of central and eastern Europe and to Cyprus and Malta, but make no mention of Turkey, which has been an associated country since 1963.

1.2. The aim of the proposal is to secure equal treatment for Turkey, which is the only country of those mentioned above to have concluded a customs union with the EU. The customs union, which admittedly does not cover agricultural products, entered into force on 31 December 1995. The proposal also meets the request made by Turkey at the Association Council meeting on 30 October 1995.

1.3. The Commission considers that, against the background of the EU-Turkey customs union, Turkey's participation in these programmes is in the Community's interest. The reasons for this are twofold: it will allow young Europeans to establish closer links with their opposite numbers in Turkey; and it will help strengthen democracy and respect for human rights in that country. These objectives are cited as key elements in the cost-effectiveness analysis (point 9 of the financial statement).

1.4. The Commission emphasizes that the main beneficiaries will be students, academics and young people, and that the intermediaries will be teaching establishments, mainly universities and other institutions of higher education.

1.5. The Commission states that Turkey's financial contribution will be made via a direct contribution, or by using funds earmarked for financial cooperation (or a mix of the two), whilst reserving the right to make a proposal to the budgetary authority at a later date.

2. Comments

2.1. The ESC regrets to note that although the proposals come under the scope of Articles 126 and 127 (Socrates), 126 (Youth for Europe) and 127 (Leonardo), for which ESC consultation is mandatory, the formal request for an opinion which has been expected since May 1996 has still not been made. The ESC has therefore decided to invoke the provisions of Rule 23(3), following a debate on the matter by the Joint Consultative Committee in Brussels on 12 December 1996.

2.2. The ESC expresses deep concern over the difficulties of the democratization process and the implementation of human rights in Turkey and is also fully aware that the Kurdish question and the situation on Cyprus have made no progress towards a solution in recent months. However, the ESC wishes to remain consistent with the own-initiative opinion adopted in 1993 and with the work carried out within the EU/Turkey joint consultative committee, set up in 1995. The ESC feels, nonetheless, that education and training are areas in which the benefits to be derived from exchanges with third country cultures and peoples clearly outweigh any economic or political considerations. In numerous opinions on EU external relations, the ESC has stated that EU socio-occupational organizations consider third country cooperation on culture and training as a priority.

2.3. Accordingly, the ESC endorses the proposal.

2.4. The ESC notes that, although the European Parliament has entered appropriations for the EU-Turkey Financial Regulation into the budget reserves, in point 5 of its Resolution on the political situation in Turkey (September 1996), the same Parliament calls on the Commission to block funding under the MEDA programme, except where it concerns 'the promotion of democracy, human rights and civil society`.

2.4.1. The ESC believes that the current proposal is amply covered by the exception provided for by the EP, and hopes that the relevant decisions will enter into force very soon.

2.5. The ESC shares the growing concern expressed in many democratic circles - both in the EU and Turkey - at a number of the Turkish government's actions, declarations and shortcomings; it nevertheless remains convinced that cooperation on such basic issues as education, training and youth provides incalculable added value to EU external relations in terms of relations between civil societies - a goal we should never lose sight of.

2.6. Education, training and youth exchanges provide an excellent seed bed for basic human and democratic values. The benefits reaped from internships or periods of study or training in a foreign country where democracy and pluralism are practised and encouraged can last a lifetime. It should be remembered that this cultural and educational process involves people who in all probability will one day hold positions of considerable responsibility in the economic and political life of their country. We should always look on investment in human resources as an investment for our future - for peace, democracy and co-existence. This is the basic reason for opening up EU cultural and training programmes to young people from outside the EU - it is consistent with the promotion of the European economic and social development model, which is characterized by solidarity and in which diversity is addressed through dialogue.

2.7. It is worth noting that the legal basis for the Decisions relating to Socrates and Leonardo is Article 127 of the Treaty (education, vocational training and youth), which explicitly states that 'the Community and Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries ...`.

2.8. The ESC calls on the Commission to identify in a clear and transparent manner all the budget items which could help to provide Turkish young people, students and academics with concrete access to the Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for Europe (III) programmes, and declares itself willing to contribute - within the confines of its remit - to the implementation of the programmes in question, in order to help ensure that the declared objectives are achieved in a consistent and efficient manner.

Brussels, 20 March 1997.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

() OJ No C 186, 26. 6. 1996, p. 8-9.