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POLITICS > EU rapporteur requests two chapters be opened for Turkey

BRUSSELS / DUBLIN

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The European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur has requested the opening of two chapters in the negotiation process, namely Chapter 23, on judiciary and fundamental rights, and Chapter 24, on justice, freedom and security, in her Turkey report.

Ria Oomen-Ruijten’s draft report was discussed and supported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament in the Belgian capital of Brussels yesterday, Anatolia news agency reported.

Thirteen of the 35 policy chapters that every candidate must conclude to join the European Union have been blocked for Turkey by France, Greek Cyprus and the European Commission.

Meanwhile, Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bağış, who is in Ireland for a series of formal talks, attended the unofficial meeting of EU ministers in the capital of Dublin yesterday.

“This was a crucial meeting where the future of the EU and today’s current issues were discussed,” he said. Bağış then joined in an EU family photo for the first time in months.

January/22/2013

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Brit in Turkey

1/26/2013 10:38:49 AM

Chris. You're certainly taking some stick on this forum! It's the same old arguments going round every time someone mentions the EU, Greece or Cyprus. It is obvious from this that 1) Turkey will never join the EU (hooray!); 2) The two parts of Cyprus will never be united; 3) True cordial relations between Greece and Turkey will never exist. I just wish I knew of a Greek (English) paper where I could post vindictive comments. Perhaps the answer is to say nothing here when the subjects come up.

Orhun Y

1/26/2013 3:35:59 AM

@Mara McGlothin. You talk about the purported billions in aid for Turkey from the EU. This is a complete fraud. The EU gives between 1 billion and 3 billion per annum to Turkey. However, through the Customs Union with the EU, where the EU has a 54% positive trade balance approximately 75 billion Euros of Turkish money goes to the EU every year. Do you understand that the main reason Turkish politicians continue down the membership path is because of the trade that trade happens between the two.

Mark Mark

1/25/2013 7:16:43 PM

Chris Green - it is exactly the dropping of those veto's by Greece that has allowed Turkey to join this path to membership, therefore it is YOU who would not recognise the facts if they whacked you in the face!

Chris Green

1/25/2013 1:11:21 AM

Peter,you and your lot would not recognise facts if they whacked you in the face! We all know that both Greece and south Cyprus are in possession of vetoes that they will use against Turkey's accession bid. South Cyprus should not even BE in the damned EU! They are, however not alone for Austria, France are other key opponents to Turkey joining. I am positive; just not in the direction you think I should be!

Peter Panayiotou

1/24/2013 2:47:34 PM

Chris it would be better if you told the facts rather than spread anti Greek propaganda. Greece totally supports Turkey within the EU because, hopefully, she wont have to worry about her borders anymore or worry about about what incident the extremists will cook up to start a war against Greece (I refer to the recent revelations about the attempted military coups). So do us all a favour and try to be positive.

Chris Green

1/23/2013 6:50:13 PM

Mara does have a point because the accession process has materially assisted Turkey in raising her game internationally in many respects and she may as well continue to accept this largesse for as long as it continues. Whether Turkey joins or not is largely a moot point in this regard. It is truly ironic that Turkey will continue to benefit to the tune of quite huge sums of money from an organisation whose membership comprises of elements that are pledged to prevent Turkey joining such as Greece

mara mcglothin

1/23/2013 4:39:38 PM

No one is talking about the billions of dollars of aid the "corrupt EU" has sent to Turkey aiming at helping Turkey raise it's standards? JOHN If Turkey has no desire to join then why continue the process and accept these hugh sums of money. Now let me hear about the corruptness of the EU. What exactly is accepting monies under wrong circumstances called in Turkey?

mara mcglothin

1/23/2013 4:36:39 PM

DOGAN Turkish membership or rising to the current standards of the EU has nothing to do with prosperity and everything to do with democracy. Whether Turkey joins or not is really not in question. It is the standards that must be changed for Turkey to become part an international community of democracies. Simple.

john albay

1/23/2013 12:38:16 AM

When will the goverment finaly understand,we the Turkish people do not want to join the EU: It is undemocratic,run by power mad fools,it is corrupt and spends billions bailing out the Banksters who have stolen billions of Euros,or greece and greek cyprus. In the case of greek occupied cyprus,the russian mafia have parked billions of dirty money in cyprus,and the bank of cyprus is even 10% russian owned. A bail out by EU taxpayers will support the dirty russian money,what a mega swindle!!!

world citizen

1/22/2013 8:18:21 PM

I see a lot of unfair criticism on here toward the EU: dead, finished, racist, anti-turk/muslim, corrupt, etc... Indeed no one said it was perfect, but for the sake of Turkey's future, it is better to analize things rationally instead of accusing and not solving its own problems. Turkey has A LOT of problems and is a MIDDLE income and REGIONAL power. Bashing the EU won't take you anywhere...
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