Press Release: EU allocates additional funds to Turkey for the pre-accession strategy

EU Foreign Affairs Ministers unanimously adopted a Commission proposal to provide Turkey with a €15 million grant during a three-year period. The adoption of this regulation is a direct consequence of the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. At that time the Heads of State and Government stated that Turkey is a candidate country designated to join the Union and that Turkey, like other candidates States, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy. Coming back from an official visit to Ankara, Commissioner Verheugen in charge of the enlargement process underlined that it is essential to provide financial assistance to stimulate and to support Turkey's reforms.