Bagiş presented the outline of the new strategy, aimed at speeding up his country's EU accession process.
"Our new strategy that we have planned to launch in January 2010 is based on four elements," said the minister, revealing the following plan:
1. Sustainability of the EU negotiation process, which in his words includes criteria for opening chapters, the terms which the country has promised to fulfill and the criteria for closing the chapters.
2. Adopting an annual calendar for the period 2010-2013, in harmony with National Programs for the adoption of the EU acquis.
3. Progress on political criteria and reforms, which sees the harmonisation of political criteria as an on-going process, in which the political reforms achieved are seen as an indicator of the effectiveness of the government.
Bagiş said that the above three points would be backed by "a very strong communication strategy," as it is critical to increase internal support for the EU bid as much as that from abroad.
The chief negotiator also highlighted achievements under the EU's 'Pre-Accession Financial Aid' programme. He said his country had spent €1.3 billion on co-financing a total of 153 such projects, while the EU had contributed €1.1 billion. He reserved particular praise for programmes aimed at assisting civil society.
"As part of the project for developing civil society dialogue between the EU and Turkey […] a total of two million people have been reached in Turkey and EU countries," the minister said.
As Turkey expects the environment chapter to be opened on 12 December, efforts to open six additional chapters will continue at full speed. He listed these as: food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, public procurement, competition policy, social policy and employment, the judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security.
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