‘Turkey Might be a Remedy to the Aging Population of EU’

Qintin, who would be the first General Director for Employment and Social Works to visit Turkey, held a meeting with a group of correspondents in Brussels ahead of her March 12th visit. She said that if the membership negotiations start with Turkey, exchange of opinions would also take place on the issues of employment and social works.

Quintin praised the latest reforms in Turkey but disclosed that Turkish Labor Law is not up to E.U. standards yet. She expressed that there are four big problems in the employment sector, with the extremely high unemployment rate topping the list. The other problems included the informal economy, ****** discrimination, and differences and distortions in unemployment among the regions.

Quintin drew particular attention to crimes against women and pointed out that the registration of female students in the schools dropped to 36 percent and the literacy rate fell to 50 percent. She echoed the EU troika when she said that crimes such as honor killings need to be stopped as soon as possible. She pointed out that the reforms in Turkey have generated important results, but that drawbacks still exist in practice.

Quintin then mentioned that Turkey and the European Commission (EC) have prepared a Joint Evaluation Project. She said that the related document, expected to be published in late 2004, would focus on employment issues and make some recommendations.

Meanwhile, German Government Official For Human Rights , Claudia Roth, said in defense of Turkey’s E.U. membership, "The Turkey question popped up 40 years ago.". Roth indicated in a evaluation meeting with Turkish correspondents that the debates on Turkey’s E.U. membership are normal; however, it should not be turned into political fodder or be made through foreigners.

She stated that she opposed the German Christian Democrats’ offer of ‘privileged partnership’ to Turkey. She instead drew attention to the fact that Turkey already joins the European category in many competitions.

Claduia Roth made the following final remarks on the membership issue: "I do not understand why Turkey sometimes belongs to Europe and sometimes it does not.. As some Turks belong to Germany, Turkey also belongs to EU. Otherwise, the E.U. loses its persuasiveness."