Act Number: 4847
Date of adoption:15.04.2003

Aim and Scope

ARTICLE 1.- The aim of this act is to regulate the establishment, functions, competence, working procedures and the guiding principles of the European Union Harmonization Committee (Committee) to be established with a view to following and debating the developments concerning Turkey’s accession process to the European Union, monitoring the developments in the European Union and informing the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Turkish Parliament) about these developments and, if asked for, submitting opinion to main committees after examining the compliance of the draft bills, submitted to the Turkish Parliament with the acquis communautaire.

Establishment of the Committee

ARTICLE 2.- The number of the members of the Committee shall be determined by the plenary of the Parliament upon the proposal to be made by the Board of Spokesmen of the Parliament. The political party groups and independent members shall be represented in proportion to the relative number of their seats in the Parliament. The political party groups shall designate their candidates for the membership of Turkey- EU Joint Parliamentary Committee from the members of the European Union Harmonization Committee. In the selection of the members of the Committee, the priority shall be given to the Members of Parliament who understand, speak and write English or French and who are specialised in the field of European Union law. Two elections shall be held in a legislative term for the membership of the Committee. The term of the first elected members is two legislation years, while the term of the second elected members is three. The Committee shall elect one chairperson, two vice - chairpersons, one spokesperson and a secretary according to the proportion of the political party groups. This election is carried out by the secret vote of the absolute majority of those present in the Committee gathered by the absolute majority.

Functions of the Committee

ARTICLE 3.- Functions of the Committee are as follows: (a) To examine, upon the request of the Speaker or if asked for, the compliance to the acquis communautaire of the draft bills and submit its opinion on them to the main standing committee. (b) To follow and debate the developments regarding Turkey’s accession process to the European Union. (c) To prepare an evaluation report regarding its activities and the developments in Turkey’s accession process to the European Union at the end of every legislative year, and to submit it to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Government. (d) To monitor the developments in the European Union and, if needed, to conduct surveys abroad and to inform the Parliament about these developments. (e) To conduct relations with the European Union institutions, member and candidate States’ parliaments and European Union institutions. (f) To provide the necessary information and documents regarding the activities of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey about the accession to the European Union. (g) To carry out activities to inform the public about accession to the European Union.

Competence of the Committee

ARTICLE 4.- The Committee has the competence to request information from the ministries, the general and annexed budget administrations, local administrations, universities and other public or private institutions and to convoke and to get information from their staff. The Committee may, if needed, consult relevant experts. It may carry out its duties out of Ankara and abroad.

Working procedures and guiding principles of the Committee

ARTICLE 5.- The Committee shall convene with, at least one third of the total number of its members and shall take decisions by absolute majority of those present; however the quorum for decision can, by no means, be less than a quarter plus one of the total number of the members. The Committee may ask the opinion of Secretariat General for the European Union Affairs on compliance of a draft law with the acquis communautaire. The Committee shall submit its annual activity and evaluation report to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. This report may be put on the agenda of the Plenary upon the proposal of the Board of Spokesmen and the Plenary shall take cognizance of it by listening to the reading or by debating it. The Committee report shall be forwarded to the Prime Ministry and related ministries by the Speaker. Expenses incurred at home and abroad for the activities of the Committee shall be covered by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey according to the Act on Travel Allowance numbered 6245, upon the decision of the Committee and approval of the Speaker. The Rules of

Procedure to be Applied

ARTICLE 6.- For the activities of the Committee, the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be implemented in case there is no clarity in this act. The supervising authority of the Speaker on the committees according to the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National Assembly shall also be effective on this Committee.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1.- The political party groups shall notify their candidates for the first election of the European Union Harmonization Committee membership, including the members of the Turkey – EU Joint Parliamentary Committee. The election of the members of the Committee for the second term in the 22th period shall be held together with the other committees.

Entry into Force

ARTICLE 7.- This law shall come into force on the day of publication in the Official Gazette.

Implementation

ARTICLE 8.- The provisions of this law shall be implemented by the Speaker and the Council of Ministers.