EU Commissioner to Arrive in Ankara to "Encourage Turkish Officials for Progress"

PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will arrive in Ankara on Oct. 2 to encourage Turkish officials to make more progress on the implementation of reforms before the European Commission's annual progress report due on Nov. 8. Rehn's impressions from the visit, on which he is to monitor progress in implementing reforms by meeting representatives of non-governmental organizations, will play a significant role in the final touches to the report.



He will also take part in a meeting on "The European Social Model and Syndicated Rights in the EU Negotiation Process" on Oct. 3. Rehn will also meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and other Turkish officials. He told the Strasbourg assembly late Tuesday that Turkey has to make more progress in implementing reforms. He noted that controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) will most likely affect the upcoming progress report on Turkey in a negative light and urged the Turkish government to abolish or amend the article.



"Despite the acquittal of novelist Elif Safak, freedom of expression remains under threat in Turkey," Rehn said Tuesday, arguing that the mere existence of such judicial proceedings had "a chilling effect" on journalists, writers and activists, reports ABHaber.