The Stakes at Issue with Turkey`s Application for Membership of the European Union

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
Paris, le 22 septembre 2004

A SYMPOSIUM ON
The Stakes at Issue with Turkey’s Application
for Membership of the European Union.


organised by the Kurdish Institute of Paris

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Friday 1st October 2004

from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

101, rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris

Salle Victor Hugo

Jacques Chaban-Delmas Building

Metro/RER: Invalides

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On 17 December 2004, the European Union has to decide whether the time is opportune for opening negotiations for the eventual admission of Turkey to membership. Before then; On October 6th, the European Commission is due, in principle, to give its opinion on the degree of progress of democratisation reforms promised by Ankara so as to meet the political criteria, the so called Copenhagen criteria, for integration into Europe.

What is the situation regarding these reforms and their application in practice? Over and above the declarations, what are the real changes that have taken place in Human Rights, of civil liberties, of the fate of the Kurds? Where are they with the process of democratising the Turkish regime?

What would be the social, cultural and economic consequences of Turkey’s membership? What are the regional and geopolitical stakes at issue in Turkey’s candidature?

These questions, which affect the identity of Europe; the nature of its future political projects, and its borders greatly concern the citizens of France and of Europe. They deserve public and plural debate.

The conference organised by the Kurdish Institute aims at assessing the situation on these questions by giving the floor to public figures and experts coming from Turkey and to European public figures and specialists of a variety of different horizons and sensitivities, so as to contribute to informing public opinion.

Access to the conference is free within the limitations of available seating. It is, nevertheless required first of all to fill in an enrolment form available from the Kurdish Institute.

Press Contact Miss Rusen Werdi

Tel: 01 45 23 11 72

Enrolment: the Reception of the Paris Kurdish Institute

Tel: 01 48 24 64 64 --- Fax: 01 48 24 64 66