European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule urged EU countries to remove obstacles in the way of opening more chapters to negotiations, accelerating Turkey's accession process.
"Member states continue to discuss whether to open the chapter on regional policy to negotiations," Fule said at a European Commission conference on freedom of expression and press in West Balkans and Turkey. "If opened, it will be a first in three years, and will be an important factor for putting the accession negotiations back on track, and will form a part of our sustainable reengagement with Turkey."
Turkey's concerns regarding the opening criteria were legitimate, Fule said.
"Turkish Justice Minister is asking me logical questions. He says: 'What direction should law reform packages take? Where is the screening report? What are the opening criteria?' These are difficult to answer," Fule said.
Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said the recent developments in the candidate member country were worrying.
"We have been and are watching the developments in Turkey with great concern," Barroso said at the European People's Party (EPP) summit in Vienna. "I believe we need to continue dialogue with Turkey."
EPP President Wilfried Martens seconded Barroso's concerned outlook on the events, and said they were willing to engage with Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party to explain the criteria of how security forces should intervene in public demonstrations.
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