Secretariat General for EU Affairs:
Communication Platform
I- What is “euturkey” Communication Platform?
Until today, Secretariat General for the European Union Affairs executed the process of harmonising Turkish legislation with the EU acquis in close contact with mainly the ministries and other public institutions. Meanwhile, non-governmental organisations were briefed on the issues concerning them via regular meetings held in the Secretariat General; informative seminars about different dimensions of the harmonisation process were arranged in close cooperation with the private sector and representatives from Secretariat General participated to the conferences, panels and other events organised by universities with the same motive.
All of these activities are very beneficial but not sufficient in terms of the efficiency of the harmonisation process. In order to carry out the harmonisation process in a more efficient way; it is essential to ensure a closer communication with all the actors of the process. Furthermore the values and principles underlying European integration and the candidacy process should be perceived, debated and embraced by all segments of Turkish society, to reach a “conscious acceptance” by the majority of the Turkish public for Turkish membership to the EU. Only then individuals can become “participants” in this modernisation and development process and this process can receive significant support.
“euturkey” communication platform is a project developed by the Secretariat General for the European Union Affairs, following the evaluation of the aforementioned needs. “euturkey” will be a communication platform aiming to ensure an interactive communication among the ministries, public institutions, private sector, universities, non-governmental organisations, mass media and all of the individuals concerned with the issue and EU institutions.
II- What are the Objectives of “euturkey” Communication Platform?
1. To increase public interest regarding the European integration;
2. To carry out the process of harmonising Turkish legislation with the EU acquis in a more efficient way;
3. To ensure the monitoring of the harmonisation process by larger groups;
4. To ensure the participation of different groups in the harmonisation process;
5. To be educative/informative in the pre-accession process;
6. To ensure the interaction of different segments of the society;
7. To play an active role in the “e-turkey” project in order to contribute to the “e-europe” project.
III- The Target Audience of “euturkey” Communication Platform
In Turkey
· Ministries and other Public institutions
· Private sector
· Non-governmental organisations
· Universities
· Mass media
· Individuals
In Europe
· EU Institutions (especially EU Commission)
· Member States
· Candidate Countries
· Embassies of Member States in Turkey
· Embassies of Candidate Countries in Turkey
Member states-Embassies of Member States in Turkey
In the process of elaborating the “euturkey” Communication Platform, the Secretariat General conducted a survey directed to determine the expectations and needs of the target audience. A questionnaire was conveyed to 1099 persons and 361 of them responded to the questionnaire.
Percentage distribution of the participants:
Public institutions and establishments % 33
Private sector institutions % 26
Non-governmental organisations % 18
Universities % 17
Others % 6
High level of education: The level of education of the participants from different target groups reached through e-mail is over the average of Turkey.
Middle age and over middle age: Results of the questionnaire demonstrate that the average age of the target groups is over the average age of Turkish society.
IV- What Are The Expectations Regarding The Content Of “euturkey” Communication Platform?
According to the results of the survey, the required content of the communication platform is as as follows:
1. Financial Cooperation Between EU and Turkey;
2. Turkish Legislation that need to be amended for The Adoption of the Acquis Communautaire;
3. National Programme;
4. Monitoring the Implementation of the National Programme;
5. Research and Comments.
V- What are the expected functions of the euturkey communication platform?
1.News : Updated, correct, and reliable news regarding all aspects of the the pre-accession process .
2.Detailed Search: Detailed search facilities .
3.e-newsletter: Periodical information about the subjects whose primary contents are given above
4.The Opportunity to send information and comments regarding the harmonisation process: Active participation in the harmonisation process.
5.Forum: An open platform where the individuals can interact through information and evaluation.
6.Proposal of content
: The ability to propose “content” regarding the individual field of expertise in the pre-accession process.
VI- The Institutions Required to be in Interaction
According to the results of the survey, the institutions primarily required to be in interaction in the euturkey communication platform are listed according to their priorities as follows:
1. EU Institutions;
2. Secretariat General for the EU Affairs;
3. Non-governmental Organisations;
4. Representation of the EU Commission to Turkey;
5. Ministries and Other Public Institutions .
VII- What are the functions of the euturkey communication portal?
The functions of the portal can be summarised as follows:
- To provide correct and up-to-date information (information regarding the institutions and structures of harmonisation process and up-to-date news regarding harmonisation process of Turkey) ;
- To provide active contribution of the portal members;
- To ensure transparency in the monitoring of the harmonisation process ;I
- To provide easy access to the institutions and individuals active in the harmonisation process;
- To provide contribution of the experts to the process of adoption of the Acquis and European Convention regarding the future of EU.
VIII- What are the rights of the members of the euturkey communication portal?
The members of the portal will enjoy the following rights:
1) To contribute to the work of the sub-committees (for the members of the sub-committees) and be informed regarding the work of the sub-committees ;
2) To participate in the harmonisation groups ;
3) To make comments;
4) To propose content;
5) To receive e-newsletter;
6) To update the membership information .
IX- Where does the euturkey communication portal stand in the “Communication Strategy” of Turkey ?
Our efforts directed towards accession to the EU should be supported with a communication strategy, whose main objective should be a conscious acceptance by the majority of the Turkish public of membership to the EU, by showing the Turkish citizens major effects of accession. Although the “portal” that we have developed is an important instrument of this strategy, it is not adequate by itself. It has to be supported with other instruments such as :
- books and brochures;
- a special course on “EU Affairs” in high school education;
- EU dimension to be included in special meetings organised by the private sector;
- Special meetings to increase communication between among the executives of the EU institutions and representatives of Turkish private sector; NGOs and universities
- Organising joint activities with NGOs specialised or having close interest in EU. .
