Commission opinion pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2000-11-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, cooperation policy, economic development, social development

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 23.11.2000
COM(2000)734 final

1998/0300 (COD)

COMMISSION OPINION

pursuant to Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the
proposal for a

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the
implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION
pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

1.

BACKGROUND

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council
(document COM(1998)600 final – 1998/0300 (SYN):

22/10/1998

Date of opinion of the European Parliament at first reading:

02/12/1999

Date of transmission of the amended proposal COM (2000)
169 final - 1998/0300 (COD):

Date of adoption of the common position:

05/04/2000

13/06/2000

Date of opinion of the European Parliament at second reading:

06/09/2000

2.

SUBJECT OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL

Financial support for the implementation of the European Union strategy for Turkey,
i.e. increased financing for the pre-accession strategy for Turkey.

3.

COMMISSION'S OPINION ON THE EP'S AMENDMENTS

The European Parliament adopted three amendments to the common position at second
reading.

The Commission accepts the three amendments:

Amendment 1 excludes the development of nuclear power from the scope of the Regulation.
The Commission has no intention of funding measures for the development of nuclear power
in Turkey and has, in fact, made a declaration to that effect.

Amendment 2 adds support for measures seeking to abolish capital punishment to the list of
indicative areas for action. The Commission welcomes the financing of such initiatives.

Amendment 3 adds the following phrase to the indicative areas for action: ‘any form of
cooperation seeking to resolve the Kurdish problem’. The Commission firmly supports
respect for and the protection of the rights of all citizens, regardless of differences, allegiances
or peculiarities. The Commission accepts the amendment, noting that many of the ongoing
initiatives in the framework of EU-Turkey financial cooperation are designed to promote
economic and social development and reduce tension in eastern and south-eastern Turkey.

The Commission draws the Council's attention to the need to change the reference period
for financial assistance in the draft regulation as the earliest date for its adoption is in the last
quarter of the year 2000. The Commission will not therefore be able to commit the funds in
2000. For that reason, the financial reference reflecting the legislative authority's wishes
should be EUR 135 million for the period 2001-2003. The text of the draft regulation
therefore needs to be changed in recital 13 and Article 2.

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4.

CONCLUSIONS

Under the terms of Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal
in accordance with the above.

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