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Turkey – Research and new technologies

Candidate countries conduct negotiations with the European Union (EU) in order to prepare themselves for accession. The accession negotiations cover the adoption and implementation of European legislation (acquis) and, more specifically, the priorities identified jointly by the Commission and the candidate countries in the analytical assessment (or ‘screening’) of the EU’s political and legislative acquis. Each year, the Commission reviews the progress made by candidates and evaluates the efforts required before their accession. This monitoring is the subject of annual reports presented to the Council and the European Parliament.

ACT

Commission Report [COM(2011) 666 final – SEC(2011) 1201 - Not published in the Official Journal].

SUMMARY

The 2011 Report identifies satisfactory progress concerning the future integration of Turkey into the European Research Area and its preparations for the Innovation Union.

EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS (according to the Commission’s words)

Due to its specificity, the acquis in the field of science and research does not require any transposition in the national legal order. Implementation capacity does not relate to the application and enforcement of legal provisions but rather to the existence of the necessary conditions for effective participation in the framework programmes. In order to ensure the successful implementation of the acquis in this domain, notably successful association to the framework programmes, Turkey will need to create the necessary implementing capacities in the field of research and technological development including an increase of the personnel assigned to framework programme activities.

The acquis in the field of telecommunications is aimed at the elimination of obstacles to the effective operation of the single market in telecommunications services and networks, and the deployment of universally available modern services. A new regulatory framework on electronic communications was adopted by the European Union (EU) in 2002. As regards postal services, the objective is to implement the single market by opening up the sector to competition in a gradual and controlled way, within a regulatory framework which assures a universal service.

EVALUATION (according to the Commission’s words)

Turkey is well prepared for accession in the area of science and research. Good progress has been made towards integration into the European Research Area and preparations for the Innovation Union. Overall, Turkey's participation and success rate in the EU Seventh Framework Programme are growing, but further efforts are needed in order to meet the excellence requirement and competitive participation in the EU research programmes.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Report [COM(2010) 660 final – SEC(2010) 1327 - Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2010 Report noted the country’s good level of preparation in the field of research, particularly through its participation in European Union (EU) programmes. In addition, progress had been made towards its future integration into the European Research Area.

Commission Report [COM(2009) 533 final – SEC(2009) 1334 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2008) 674 final - SEC(2008) 2699 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

The 2008 Report noted progress made in the field of electronic communications, in particular the adoption of competitive safeguards imposed on dominant operators on the mobile telephony and broadband market. However, alignment with the Community legislative framework remained limited.

Commission Report [COM(2007) 663 final - SEC(2007) 1436 final - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2007 Report welcomed the progress made by Turkey in science and research. However, the Report emphasised the small number of researchers and the lack of involvement of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in research.

Turkey has made some progress in the area of electronic communications, particularly as regards the implementing legislation. However, the country has only partly aligned with the Community framework.

Commission Report [COM(2006) 649 final - SEC(2006) 1390 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The October 2006 Report noted real progress in the two areas of activity. In science and research, Turkey appeared to be well prepared concerning participation in the EU programmes and the allocation of national budget appropriations. Thanks to increased collaboration with the EU, many measures had been taken to make the research environment more favourable. In general, Turkey had made good progress overall in the design and application of an integrated research strategy. In terms of the information society, the country had acquired a good base for continuing alignment with the Community acquis in the field of electronic communications and information technology.

Commission Report [COM(2005) 561 final - SEC(2005) 1426 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2005 Report noted some progress on research with, in particular, greater participation by Turkey in the Sixth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP6) and a number of developments regarding legal and administrative structures. Progress had also been made on the information society mainly through further alignment with the acquis in order to liberalise the electronic communications and information technologies sector.

Commission Report [COM(2004) 656 final - SEC(2004) 1201 - Not published in the Official Journal]. The 2004 Report noted that Turkey's capacity in the area of science and research remained limited, but that it was maintaining efforts to increase its participation in the research and development programmes and activities. The report also noted that further efforts were essential to complete the regulatory framework in the telecommunications sector and to effectively enforce the rules vis-à-vis the large powerful companies that dominated the market.

Commission Report [COM(2003) 676 final - SEC(2003) 1212 – Not published in the Official Journal]. The November 2003 Report pointed out that alignment with the telecommunications acquis was still insufficient. Moreover, no progress had been made as regards postal services. In the sphere of science and research, Turkey’s full association with the Sixth Framework Programme was a significant step forward, but its effectiveness still remained to be assessed.

Commission Report [COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1412 – Not published in the Official Journal]. The October 2002 Report emphasised that Turkey had made some progress in the field of science and research. However, with regard to telecommunications, the report noted that little progress had been made since the previous report.

Commission Report [COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1756 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2000) 713 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. In its November 2000 Report, the Commission noted that progress had been made in the field of research. Noticeable progress was reported in the field of telecommunications, particularly regarding competition.

Commission Report [COM(1999) 513 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(1998) 711 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Last updated: 30.12.2011

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