Fête Nationale/Nationale Feestdag: Discours Royal/Royal Toespraak…

 

Façonner une société inclusive, dans laquelle personne ne se sent abandonné ! ♔ ♕ Un vent d’optimisme souffle sur notre économie et sur le marché de l’emploi. Une nouvelle dynamique européenne semble prendre forme. Alors comment saisir ce moment ? Comment en faire une opportunité pour l’ensemble de la société ? En continuant à façonner une société inclusive, dans laquelle personne ne se sent abandonné. ♔ ♕ Over de economie en de arbeidsmarkt waait vandaag een wind van optimisme. Een nieuwe Europese dynamiek lijkt vorm te krijgen. Hoe kunnen we dit moment aangrijpen? Hoe zorgen we ervoor dat dit kansen biedt voor de hele maatschappij? Door stevig voort te werken aan een inclusieve samenleving. Een samenleving, waarin niemand zich uitgesloten voelt. ♔ ♕ Aller à la rencontre d’une autre culture est aussi une occasion de s’enrichir mutuellement. Il y a un mois et demi, je suis allé fêter la rupture du jeûne dans une famille belge musulmane. J’ai été impressionné par la manière dont chacun des membres de cette famille s’implique dans la société. J’ai beaucoup appris sur le sens qu’ils donnent au jeûne et à ce moment de retrouvailles. En sortant de chez eux, tard le soir, j’ai été accueilli par leurs voisins. Ils m’ont offert une bouteille de vin et m’ont dit à quel point ils étaient heureux de vivre dans ce quartier. J’étais fier de voir coexister chez nous, côte à côte, ces deux manières simples et vraies d’exprimer l’hospitalité. ♔ ♕ Zijn ook ontmoetingen met een andere cultuur een gelegenheid om van elkaar te leren. Anderhalve maand geleden ging ik het einde van het vasten vieren in een Belgisch moslimgezin. Ik was onder de indruk van de manier waarop alle leden van het gezin zich inzetten voor de gemeenschap. Ik heb veel geleerd over de zin die ze geven aan het vasten, en aan het weerzien van familie, vrienden en kennissen. Toen ik, ‘s avonds laat, het huis verliet, stonden hun buren me op te wachten. Zij boden me een fles wijn aan. En ze vertelden me hoe blij ze waren in die buurt te wonen. Het maakte me trots, dat twee zo verschillende, eenvoudige en oprechte uitingen van gastvrijheid, bij ons zij aan zij kunnen bestaan. © photocredit

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AP Kararı sonrasında…

 

İlişkilerde İlkeli Pragmatizmin Geleceği! ☪ ⚓ Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinde olumlu ivme yakalanabilmesi için iletişim sorununun giderilmesi ve karşılıklı sert söylemlerin geride bırakılması temenni ediliyor. ☪ ⚓ AP’nin tavsiye kararı gibi sarsıcı gelişmelerin, tarafların ilkeli pragmatizme dayalı yapıcı işbirliğine zarar vermemesini sağlamak, Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinin olumlu gelişimini ülkü edinmiş bütün paydaşların temel sorumluluğu. ☪ ⚓ Şimdi, 25 Temmuz tarihinde bakanlar ve Komisyon üyeleri düzeyinde Siyasi Diyalog Toplantısı; 2017 yılı bitmeden de en yüksek düzeyde temsilin gerçekleşeceği Türkiye-AB Zirvesi planlanıyor. ☪ ⚓ Diğer deyişi ile, AP kararına rağmen, yapıcı diyalog/teknik işbirliği sürecine girilmiş gibi gözüküyor. Bu sürecin kısa vadede iki çok kritik konuda doğrudan olumlu sonuçlar vermesi muhtemel: vize serbestliği diyaloğu ve Gümrük Birliği’nin modernizasyonu. Ancak en hayati konuda Batı cephesinde yeni bir şey yok: katılım müzakereleri. ☪ ⚓ Güncel konjonktürde ilişkileri pragmatizmden ilkesel bir boyuta taşıyacak adım olarak ise 23’üncü ve 24’üncü fasılların açılması öne çıkıyor. Bu fasılların kurumsal ve planlı bir çerçevede, yakın AB denetimi altında ele alınması, AB’nin Türkiye üzerindeki dönüştürücü etkisini tekrardan hatırlatabilir.

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EU – Japan Summit: Conclusions…

 

EU and Japan agree a historic free and fair trade deal! ☀ Leaders reached a political agreement in principle on two landmark agreements, the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which will bring huge benefits to the populations of both the European Union and Japan ☀ The depth of this agreement goes beyond free trade. It makes a statement about the future of open and fair trade in today’s world. It sets the standard for others. As far as we are concerned, there is no protection in protectionism. Only by working together will we be able to set global standards when it comes to safety, environmental or consumer protection said the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. ☀ Before attending the G20 Hamburg Summit tomorrow EU and Japan discussed their cooperation in other important areas, including on joint efforts to address the global threat of climate change and other international challenges. © photocredit

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AP Kararı’na Türkiye’den Tepkiler…

 

Reactions to the EP Resolution from the Turkish Side! ☪ AB’nin herhangi bir kurumu tarafından yayımlanan bir raporun güvenilir olması, içinde bizim faydalanabileceğimiz unsurlar olması gerekir. Eleştiriden çekinmeyiz. Hatta bu eleştiriden nasıl faydalanırız diye bakarız. Fakat maalesef bu karar böyle bir içerikten tamamen uzak. ☪ Bir iş birliği raporu değil. Eleştiri hayatın icabıdır. Raporun eleştirilerle birlikte ilerlemeye, beraberce iş yapmaya olanak sağlayan birtakım hükümler içermesi, birtakım imkanlar yaratmasını beklerdik. Bu bir sabotaj raporu, ilişkileri sabote etmeye dönük bir rapordur. ☪ Kararın, AB Komiseri’nin ülkemizi ziyaret ettiği ve her iki tarafın da ilişkileri geliştirmek için çaba sarfettiği bir döneme denk gelmesi ayrıca talihsizdir. ☪ Asılsız iddialara ve iftiralara dayanan bir karar söz konusu. Bu karar tarafımızdan yok hükmünde sayılmaktadır. ☪ AP’nin de eleştirdiği, yani demokrasi, insan hakları, temel özgürlükler ve hukukun üstünlüğü alanlarında Türkiye’nin ilerlemesini sağlamak, Avrupa değerlerine bağlı kalmasını temin etmek için en etkili araç ve yöntem üyelik süreci ve müzakerelerdir. Yeni fasılların açılmasıdır. Etkin ve inandırıcı bir müzakere süreci Türkiye’nin AB’ye her alanda yakınlaşmasını sağlamanın en etkili yoludur. ☪ It did not represent a binding decision and further highlighted that suspending negotiations would result in tremendous damage to Turkey-EU relations. ☪ In order to full advance in issues criticised by the EP such as democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law and for Turkey to progress and to be fully in line with European values, the most effective method would be to open new Chapters within the framework of the accession negotiations. An effective and credible negotiation process is the most efficient way in enabling the necessary rapprochement between Turkey and the EU. © photocredit

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From EP to Erdoğan: You cannot sit and wait while situation in Turkey is deteriorating!

 

MEPs vote on plans to suspend accession talks with Turkey should controversial changes to its constitution go ahead. ☪ ⚠ ⛔ The Parliament speaks with one, clear and loud voice in condemning the Turkish government’s serious decline in democratic standards, and continues to support the Turkish population – millions of whom would like to continue to see the EU as an anchor for reforms in their country. ☪ ⚠ ⛔ Taking note of the outcome of Turkey’s recent referendum and the expansion of presidential powers, the resolution calls on the EU Commission and the EU national governments “to formally suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey without delay if the constitutional reform package is implemented unchanged. ☪ ⚠ ⛔ The resolution also recognises the importance of good EU-Turkey relations and maintaining a constructive and open dialogue, which is key to addressing common challenges, such as migration, security or terrorism. MEPs support upgrading the EU-Turkey Customs Union, asking for human rights and fundamental freedoms to be a part of a new agreement. ☪ ⚠ ⛔ The Parliament is planning to send an ad-hoc delegation to Ankara in the autumn with the aim of renewing parliamentary dialogue. ☪ ⚠ ⛔ The resolution was approved by 477 votes to 64, with 97 abstentions.

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Avrupa Parlamentosu’ndan Türkiye’ye…

Koşulları yerine getirmeden ilişkilerde ilerleme bekleme!

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Integration, integration, integration…

 

Time to think about integration policy as a priority for migrants! ⚒ The very large and sudden inflow of asylum seekers at the time when most European countries were still grappling with the impact of the Great Recession has fuelled public concerns as to whether governments can manage such large flows and whether they can effectively integrate those migrants who will stay. Public opinion often calls for more selective and restrictive admission of future migrants, if not for the closing of borders. Past integration outcomes have indeed often left something to be desired. ⚒ The OECD-EU report, Indicators of Immigrants Integration: Settling In (2015), showed very clearly that all too often life chances of people are determined by their country of origin rather than their abilities and ambitions. The unemployment gap between native-born people and immigrants has widened in many countries since 2007 and is nowalmost 5 percentage points in Europe ⚒ The recent initiative of the European commission, “Employers Together for Integration”, is building on this positive dynamic. ⚒ Integration is not only a domestic question. There is a strong case for international co-operation in this area: ⚒ The economic, political and social costs associated with the lack of integration in one country may have negative spill-overs for others. ⚒ In a context of increasing diversity, the development of inclusive, cohesive and harmonious societies will have a positive impact on international relations. ⚒ Better integration outcomes are essential for the migration-development nexus – unless migrants’ skills are well used in their host countries, they will not be able to contribute to the development of their origin countries. ⚒ At this critical juncture, it is not only time for concrete actions on supporting the integration of migrants and their children into our labour markets and societies. Now is the time to think about integration policy as a priority not just within countries, but also at global level. © photocredit

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