THRACIAN ISSUE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ON TURKEY’S PROGRESS TO EU

For the first time the Thracian issue finds place in the report on Turkey's progress to EU accession, PES reported. The EP Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted a decision to include the issue about the compensation of Bulgarian Thracian refugees in the report on Turkey's progress for 2007. This issue shall find a place in a resolution of the European Parliament for the first time.                                                                                                                                            

The Committee's decision is a result of the amendment proposals submitted by the Bulgarian MEPs from the Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Evgeni Kirilov and Marusya Lyubcheva by which Turkey is urged to start negotiations with Bulgaria for the implementation of the signed by both Treaty of Angora. The amendments were also actively supported by Nikolay Mladenov, Bulgarian MEP from the Group of the European People's Party - European Democrats (EPP-ED).

In this connection Evgeni Kirilov and Marusya Lyubcheva made the following announcement: "As a country, member of the EU, today Bulgaria has more opportunities to solve the problems of the Bulgarian Thracian refugees. The inclusion of this issue in a report of the European Parliament is a major breakthrough for this bilateral problem to find its European solution".

After tense preliminary discussions and coordination between the political groups, a compromise text has been adopted supported by all members of the Committee on Foreign affairs. The text says: "in the spirit of good neighbour relations the EP calls for the Turkish authorities to enhance the dialogue on all pending bilateral issues with Greece (for example, the continental shelf in the Aegean sea) and with Bulgaria (for example the right of property of the Bulgarian Thracian refugees)".

"Yesterday we gave an example of how Bulgarian MEPs can work together to solve problems, which concern tens of thousands of our fellow-citizens" declared Nikolay Mladenov.

In this way the issue about the property of the Bulgarian Thracian refugees becomes part of the report on Turkey's progress on its road to the EU. The EP is expected to adopt the report at its plenary session in May. After the report is being adopted, the compensation issue will be part of the conditions Turkey should conform to in the process of its accession to the EU.