The European Commission published its Regular Report on 6 October 2004, which concludes and confirms that Turkey has successfully met the Copenhagen political criteria.

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted by an overwhelming majority a report on 15 December 2004 that gives its consent to opening accession negotiations with Turkey.

Subsequently, the Brussels European Council has proclaimed on 17 December 2004 that accession negotiations would be opened on 3 October 2005.   This event marks a second turning point in relations between Turkey and the EU, after the 1999 Helsinki Summit where Turkey's candidacy for EU membership was declared.

From now on the relations between both sides shall not be seen within the us-and-them pattern.  What comes next is to work hard in the envisioned direction and to usher the process to a successful completion. 

The negotiating process will be a long and challenging one.   However, Turkish People and the Turkish State possess the determination and ability necessary to reach the end of this road.  The Turkish side of the Joint Parliamentary Committee will endeavour, in co-operation with our colleagues on the EP side, for an excellent completion of the negotiation process. 

The formula that would prepare the success that we are longing for is concerted efforts to be exerted by the citizen and the state. The Turkish Parliament and our Committee attach great importance to coordination with the civil society in every work to be done on the way to full membership.  In the final analysis, the current membership process is seen as a societal transformation project. A successful transformation of the society would consolidate as well as encourage development in every sphere from economic affairs to politics, from science to education, from social policies to foreign policy.

We are feeling a great enthusiasm and also striving to catch up with and even lead the contemporary civilisation along the direction that the founder of our Republic Kemal ATATÜRK showed us to proceed.  Acting on the principle "peace at home, peace in the globe" we are going to make every effort to lay the foundations of a humanity that transcends all religious, cultural, racial and political boundaries.

With my best wishes