A delegation [1] from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), led by Secretary General John Monks and the leaders of the four affiliated organisations in Turkey - DISK, Hak-IS, KESK and Turk-IS - met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Employment Minister Murat Basesgioglu, and the President of the National Assembly Bulent Arinc on 1 November .

John Monks reaffirmed the position of the ETUC, adopted at its last Executive Committee meeting on 14 October, in favour of Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

John Monks used these discussions to emphasise the efforts the Turkish government must make during the negotiation and pre-accession period, to strengthen and acknowledge the role of the social partners, their ability to negotiate and their independence, and respect for essential trade union rights, as well as fundamental freedoms such as those embodied in the new EU Constitutional Treaty, so as to guarantee full respect for human rights.