"The European Commission today decided to launch a civil society dialogue between the EU and the Candidate Countries. Its aim is to create and reinforce links between civil society in the Member States and in the Candidate Countries, to respond to concerns, to improve mutual understanding, and to encourage a debate in the society at large about enlargement," the EC said in a press release on its web site.
"The long-term objective is to prepare all citizens in the EU and in the candidate countries (Turkey and Croatia) for future accession. The Commission"s proposal has a special focus on Turkey, since misconceptions and concerns are more widespread about that country. Thanks to the Stabilisation and Association Process for the Western Balkans, we already have a framework for civil society dialogue with Croatia; in addition to the Community programmes, we encourage bilateral activities between Croatia and the EU Member States," the press release read.
EC Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn was quoted as saying that the Commission "has to listen better to citizens. That is why the Commission is launching the civil society dialogue to engage with the EU"s citizens. We have to facilitate a deeper dialogue between the people of the EU Member States and the candidate countries".
Next year the Commission will earmark about 40 million euros for new bilateral projects involving partners from the EU and Turkey. The funds will be ensured under the existing pre-accession assistance programmes for candidate countries.