EP advises Turkish to become EU’s 25th official language

STRASBOURG

The European Parliament has advised making Turkish an official language of the European Union, building on the initiative by Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, according to the EP’s 2015 progress report on Turkey. 

“The European Parliament … welcomes the initiative of … Anastasiades, to make Turkish an official language of the EU, and urges the parties to accelerate this process,” read a part of EP’s progress report on Turkey, which was adopted on April 14, with 375 yay votes to 133 nays, and 87 abstentions.

Anastasiades had lobbied for Turkish to be made the EU’s 25th official language ahead of expected reunification with Turkish Cyprus. 

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after Turkey intervened in the north following a coup attempt to join Greece took place. 

The two communities of the island, Turkish and Greek, re-launched peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations last May to find a peaceful solution to the more than 40-year-old dispute. 

The two leaders of the island, Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı, jointly expressed in January that a peace deal was possible by the end of 2016.