Recipe for a third term: stability and change through the EU accession process

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Published 10 June 2011 - Updated 14 June 2011

Turkish EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış argues in an exclusive op-ed for EurActiv that a third term for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would herald a continuation of what he calls the government's "balance between stability and change".
This op-ed was sent exclusively to EurActiv by Egemen Bağış, Turkey's minister of EU affairs and Chief Negotiator.
"This Sunday approximately 50 million Turkish citizens will go to polls to decide on the government that will carry Turkey to its objectives set for its centennial in 2023. This election is also a vote of confidence in the country's reform process, which has brought stability and change hand in hand for the last decade.....more...
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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/recipe-third-term-stability-change-eu-accession-process-analysis-505568

How to read the outcome of the Turkish elections

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Home › Enlargement & East › analysis

Published 10 June 2011

Turkey's upcoming parliamentary elections signal an opportunity for positive reform of the Turkish constitution and better relations with the European Union, argues Sinan Ülgen in an exclusive commentary for EurActiv.


This commentary was sent exclusively to EurActiv by Sinan Ülgen, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, a founding partner of the consultancy firm Istanbul Economics, and chairman of the Istanbul-based Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM).
"Turks will be going to the polls this Sunday to choose their next government. There is little uncertainty about the outcome. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its charismatic leader, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are set to gain the backing of the Turkish population for a third consecutive term in power. The real uncertainty lies in the margin of victory the AKP will obtain. It is this that will ultimately shape the near-term political climate of the country.....more....
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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/read-outcome-turkish-elections-analysis-505544

Gas security in Central and Eastern Europe: Connected, coordinated and consolidated

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Published: 26 April 2011
Central and Eastern European gas markets have long suffered from isolation and fragmentation, leaving them vulnerable to both supply disruptions and to monopoly pricing power. However, new research suggests that countries collectively negotiating with gas exporters could remedy this problem, argues economist and energy researcher Edward Hunter Christie.

This commentary was authored exclusively for EurActiv by Edward Hunter Christie, an economist and Research Partner with the Pan-Europe Institute at the Turku School of Economics (Finland).

"In a recent research report financed by the Austrian Ministry of Economy, 'Vulnerability and Bargaining Power in EU-Russia Gas Relations', I explore three topics that are of interest with respect to security of natural gas supply for Central and Eastern European states....more...
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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/gas-security-central-eastern-europe-connected-coordinated-consolidated-analysis-504316

Turkey caught between Nabucco and South Stream

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Published: 15 April 2011

Rival gas pipeline projects Nabucco and South Stream are seeking Turkey's support. But it would not be in Ankara's interest to decide between one or the other, said energy expert Roland Götz. EurActiv Germany reports. Following the accident at Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima, growing scepticism towards nuclear energy is bound to lead to a rise of gas imports in the EU, Götz told the Berlin press earlier this week....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/turkey-caught-nabucco-south-stream-news-504094

Netherlands curbs Bulgarian, Romanian workers

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Published: 13 April 2011

As of 1 July, Bulgarians and Romanians as well as foreigners from outside the EU will only be granted a work permit in the Netherlands under "exceptional cases," the Dutch press reported on Tuesday (12 April).

The proposal by Social Affairs Minister Henk Kamp was backed by the Dutch government, according to press reports....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/netherlands-curbs-bulgarian-romanian-workers-news-504028

Bulgarians irked at Turkey's nuclear power plan

euractiv

Published: 08 April 2011 Updated: 11 April 2011

Turkey is planning to build a nuclear power station at İğneada, a small town close to the Bulgarian border on the Black Sea coast. No official Bulgarian reaction has yet been recorded, but Internet forums were overwhelmed with alarmed messages regarding the possible consequences of the decision....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/bulgarians-irked-turkeys-nuclear-power-plan-news-503942

Bosnia joins TAP pipeline Balkan net

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Published: 08 April 2011

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Bosnian system operator BH-Gas signed yesterday (7 April) an agreement paving the way for a future extension of the planned gas pipeline to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The two companies agreed "to explore opportunities for developing natural gas markets and enhancing supply diversity in South East Europe (SEE)"....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/bosnia-joins-tap-pipeline-balkan-net-news-503904

Bulgaria's population shrinking at alarming rate

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Published: 06 April 2011

Bulgaria has lost 582,000 people over the last ten years, a nationwide census has revealed. The EU newcomer, who has now 7,351,633 inhabitants, has lost 1.5 million of its population since 1985, a record in depopulation not just for the EU, but by global standards too.

Bulgaria, which had a population of almost nine million in 1985, now has almost the same number of inhabitants as in 1945 after World war II, the Bulgarian media writes....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/socialeurope/bulgarias-population-shrinking-alarming-rate-news-503814

Thousands protest against EU's Kosovo mission

euractiv

Published: 30 March 2011

Thousands of people took to the streets of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, to protest against the EU's law enforcement mission Eulex, which was recently behind the arrest of Kosovar rebels for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 war of secession from Serbia. Yesterday's protest was organised by several veteran organisations of the 1998-99 war and joined by an umbrella group of NGOs as well as students to "defend the honour of the KLA during the war"....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/thousands-protest-eus-kosovo-mission-news-503628

Russia takes on board Slovenia in South Stream venture

euractiv

Published: 23 March 2011 Updated: 24 March 2011

Russia signed a deal with EU member Slovenia yesterday (22 March), paving the way for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline through the Adriatic country.

Speaking at a press conference in Slovenia after Russian gas giant Gazprom had signed a $1 billion (0.7 billion euro) South Stream joint venture agreement, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he saw no threat to the project from Turkey....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/russia-takes-board-slovenia-south-stream-venture-news-503431

Serbian deputy PM mulls 'Hong Kong model' for Kosovo

euractiv

Published: 10 March 2011 Updated: 11 March 2011Serbia hopes to be ready to join the European Union by the end of 2015, but first a "creative" solution will have to be found for its former province Kosovo, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic told EurActiv Germany in an exclusive interview. He cited the "Hong Kong model" as one way of resolving the issue....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbian-deputy-pm-mulls-hong-kong-model-kosovo-news-502936

Romanian MEP expelled over bribery scandal

euractiv

Published: 23 March 2011 Updated: 24 March 2011

A Romanian lawmaker was expelled from the European Parliament's socialist group on Tuesday (22 March), the latest casualty of a cash-for-influence scandal that has forced the resignation of two EU legislators.

The leader of the Socialists & Democrats group, the legislature's second largest, said he had recommended to Adrian Severin that he quit parliament as well but Severin had refused....more...

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TAP pipeline finds Western Balkan partner

euractiv

Published: 28 February 2011 Updated: 02 March 2011

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Plinacro Ltd., a natural gas transmission system operator in Croatia, signed an agreement on Friday (25 February) providing for a future extension of the planned gas pipeline to Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for cooperation with the planned Ionian Adriatic Gas Pipeline (IAP), which promoters say will result in more supply security in South-East Europe....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/tap-pipeline-finds-western-balkan-partner-news-502576

Serbia-Kosovo talks open under Ashton's watch

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Published: 08 March 2011

The first direct talks between Serbia and its former province Kosovo, which declared independence unilaterally in 2008, begin today (8 March) in Brussels, under the oversight of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. EurActiv Serbia reports....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-kosovo-talks-open-ashtons-watch-news-502847

How to make up with Ankara

euractiv

Published: 25 February 2011 Updated: 28 February 2011
Although France's opposition to Turkish accession creates tension in the two countries' relations, events in Southern Mediterranean offer a unique opportunity for strategic cooperation between the European Union and Turkey, writes Sinan Ülgen, a former diplomat, visiting scholar with Carnegie Europe in Brussels and president of Turkish think-tank EDAM in Istanbul.
The following contribution was sent exclusively to EurActiv by Sinan Ülgen. It was first published in French on EurActiv.fr and was translated from the original French by EurActiv.com....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/east-mediterranean/ankara-analysis-502527

Gender equality in Turkey: Policy proposals by the Republican People's Party

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Published: 08 March 2011


Turkey's record on gender equality remains inadequate and has substantially worsened under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). However, strong measures for women in education, family planning and political representation can reverse the trend, writes the Brussels representative of Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kader Sevinç.
This commentary was sent exclusively to EurActiv by Kader Sevinç, the EU representative of Turkey's largest opposition party, the Republican People's Party (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi or CHP), and a member of the Party of European Socialists' Presidency Committee.
"The Turkish people's deep civilisational roots and aspirations to live in an advanced information society and democracy in the 21st Century justify the highest political focus on gender equality. This is why the Turkish government, parliament and all the political parties have an ever more important responsibility to improve Turkish society's performance on gender equality to above the European average....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/socialeurope/gender-equality-turkey-policy-proposals-republican-peoples-party-analysis-502879

Romanian minister: Qualifications are women's 'best tool'

euractiv.com

Published: 09 March 2011

Education must provide women with the right qualifications to compete with men, but they also need to be more confident in promoting their values to change mentalities in male-dominated society, said Romanian Transport Minister Anca Boagiu in an interview with EurActiv.

Anca Boagiu is a trained engineer and has been a member of the Romanian parliament and senate for the Democratic Liberal Party. She first served as minister of transport in 2000 before taking on the post of minister for European integration from 2005-2007. Her second stint as transport minister began in 2010.

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Serbia Deputy PM: We could solve 'everyday problems' with Pristina

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(interview)

Published: 10 March 2011 Updated: 14 March 2011

Serbia is hoping to be granted the status of EU candidate member at next December's summit of EU leaders, the country's deputy prime minister, Bozidar Djelic, told EurActiv Germany. He also voiced Belgrade's readiness to seek a difficult compromise with Serbia's former province Kosovo on smaller 'everyday' issues.

Bozidar Djelic is a Serbian economist and politician. From 2001 to 2003 he served as his country's finance minister and since 2007, he has been deputy prime minister. He is a member of the Democratic Party....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbia-deputy-pm-solve-everyday-problems-pristina-interview-502923

TAP pipeline finds Western Balkan partner

euractiv.com

Published: 28 February 2011 Updated: 02 March 2011

The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Plinacro Ltd., a natural gas transmission system operator in Croatia, signed an agreement on Friday (25 February) providing for a future extension of the planned gas pipeline to Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for cooperation with the planned Ionian Adriatic Gas Pipeline (IAP), which promoters say will result in more supply security in South-East Europe.

Plinacron, a state-owned company, operates Croatia's natural gas pipeline system. It plans to enter the new South European markets and is promoting IAP, claiming it will bring energy security and economic benefits to the region.

IAP is a planned gas pipeline project linking Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is estimated to cost an eventual €230 million....more...

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/tap-pipeline-finds-western-balkan-partner-news-502576

Serbian PM sacks key minister as row escalates

euractiv

Published: 15 February 2011

Conflicts within the ruling coalition in Serbia escalated on Monday (14 February) when Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković launched a procedure for the dismissal of a prominent reformist minister representing a junior party. EurActiv Serbia reports.

Cvetković, an economist of no political affiliation, moved to sack Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkić, leader of the G17 Plus party, a small liberal-conservative force.
The development is seen by analysts as the culmination of conflicts which have been smouldering within the ruling coalition for months.
Dinkić, who also holds the post of deputy prime minister, said that he accepted the decision, but also that he adhered to every word he said in the past few days – namely that the situation in Serbian society is bad and that changes are necessary.

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http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/serbian-pm-sacks-key-minister-row-escalates-news-502157