Turkey approves criminal procedure bill as part of EU membership bid News
Turkey approves criminal procedure bill as part of EU membership bid

[JURIST] Turkey's parliament has approved another law designed to pave the way for talks on Turkey's membership in the European Union. The new criminal procedure bill, which will take effect on April 1, 2005, is the second leg of a three-part criminal reform initiative, the first part of which was approved by the Turkish parliament earlier this year. The new law defines court procedures and the duties of judges and lawyers, and also deals with police searches and telephone tapping. Of the laws Turkey is required to enact before the EU will consider whether to open membership talks, only one more bill, designated the "Penal Execution Law", remains. A vote on that is expected before the EU Council meets on December 17. Reuters has more. Zaman has local coverage in English from Ankara.