EU rapporteur requests two chapters be opened for Turkey

BRUSSELS / DUBLIN

AA photo

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.