Civil society organisations from the EU and Turkey have made a joint statement in which they call on both parties to move the accession process forward. They also call for the independence of the country's professional organisations following the forthcoming reform of Turkey's constitution.

The 29th meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) took place on 15-16 September and brought together representatives of organised civil society from both the EU and Turkey. They adopted a declaration in which they asked for the independence of the country's professional organisations following the forthcoming reform of Turkey's constitution. The reform must also strengthen freedom of expression and the media, according to the declaration.

In addition the JCC urges the Turkish government to carry out an open and transparent reform of the constitution, by consulting with the country's main political forces and civil society organisations early on in the process. Mr Staffan Nilsson, President of the European Economic and Social Committee showed himself confident in that the political leadership and vision which has guided the EU for sixty years will prevail despite the crisis. Mr Egemen Bağış, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator who also attended to the meeting, reiterated the Turkish government's strong commitment to EU accession and welcomed the work of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in supporting this process.

However representatives of civil organisations of both, the EU and Turkey, regretted that despite a number of improvements, trade union rights were still seriously restricted and not in line with EU standards and ILO conventions. On women’s rights, they welcomed the higher number of women voted into office at the last general election, but warned against the continuing violence against women.