ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Turkey's EU bid with the new European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, presidential sources said Monday.
In a phone conversation, Erdogan said the EU membership held strategic importance for Turkey. Juncker also highlighted Turkish and EU joint efforts for progress in Turkey's EU accession process.
Erdogan also greeted Juncker on assuming his new post and invited him to Turkey.
Juncker was elected president in July. He is known as an arch federalist and his presidency was opposed by EU countries opting for less integration, such as the U.K.
Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters, and this involves harmonizing legislation with the bloc and the adoption of Union standards.
So far, 14 chapters have been opened for negotiation, while 17 remain blocked, and a further four have yet to be discussed. Only one new chapter has been opened in the past three years.
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