Parliament will be working overtime as the government seeks to revive the EU accession process, with deputies planning to pass more legislation than usual before it wraps up for the summer recess.

- 13 / 05 / 2008 08:57

Parliament will be working overtime as the government seeks to revive the European Union accession process, with deputies planning to pass more legislation than usual before it wraps up for the summer recess.

Governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) official Sadullah Ergin stated yesterday that Parliament, which had a busy schedule last week and worked overtime, is going to continue working hard.

“We will probably work more days and hours this week, as well. Parliament might remain open until July 15,” he said.

Reiterating Ergin’s words, Turkey’s chief EU negotiator and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said more legislation, mostly related to Turkey’s EU accession process, has been presented to Parliament for approval, so overtime will be necessary.

Babacan said ministries have completed work on a large amount of legislation and that it was presented to the Cabinet for approval pending Parliament’s endorsement.

“Draft legislation should be taken up at Parliament until June 30 [when Parliament normally adjourns for the summer break]. But we have a Parliament that is trying hard to complete everything in a timely manner,” Babacan said.

Parliament recently approved a long-sought revision to a law criticized by the EU for limiting free speech in Turkey.

The amendment of Article 301 makes it a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than “Turkishness,” and requires the justice minister’s permission to open a case under 301. Ali