Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lehtomäki to visit Turkey and Bulgaria
Press release 206/2004
17 September, 2004
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will travel to Turkey and Bulgaria, 21-24 September. The visits to the two countries will focus on export and European affairs.
Turkey is currently at a decisive stage concerning its potential EU membership, with the European Council set to provide an assessment by the end of the year of whether Turkey meets the political criteria for joining the EU and whether accession negotiations can start. The Finnish government will set out its position in October based on the recommendations of the Commission report on Turkey’s preparations for EU membership.
“Attitudes to Turkey’s EU membership are sometimes needlessly emotional. We will wait for the Commission report and its recommendations. If Turkey fulfils the conditions for EU membership, I don’t see that there would be any principle obstacles in the way,” said Ms Lehtomäki
Following the economic crisis of 2001 Turkey has been on a strong course of economic growth. Market expansion in the country and in the region is potentially important for Finnish firms. According to a report on Finland in the world economy prepared by the Government, Turkey ranks among the 17 potential non-EU countries regarded as of special interest to Finland.
Lehtomäki will meet the Turkish ministers responsible for foreign trade, environment and health. Their discussions will cover Turkish-EU questions, current EU affairs and trade between Finland and Turkey.
EU issues are also a central theme of Lehtomäki’s visit to Bulgaria. The country’s accession negotiations were finalised in June this year, with membership set for 2007. The minister will hold official talks in Sofia, 24 September, with Bulgaria’s ministers in charge of European affairs and finance and foreign trade.
Members of the Finnish business community, representing the defence industry, plus energy, health and environmental sectors, will accompany Ms Lehtomäki on her visit to Turkey and Bulgaria.
Further information: Director Merja Lindroos-Binham, Department for Europe, tel: +358 9 16055046, and Press Attaché to the Minister Anna Tonttila, tel: +358 40 5131669, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland