ANKARA
Turkey's European Union Minister (EU) and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "Prejudices are the biggest obstacles that Turkey is facing in the negotiation process."
Speaking at the Jean Monnet Scholarship Program 2011-2012 Academic Year Certificate Ceremony at Ankara Rixos Otel, Bagis said, "The EU without Turkey would remain as a continental project, while it will be globalized with the Turkey's accession."
Highlighting that in comparison to newly accessed countries, Turkey's economy was in a much better situation, Bagis said, "Those who want to discuss Turkey's membership, should just pass Turkey's Kapikule bordergate (with Bulgaria) and look at both sides, then decide."
Bagis also said, "Prejudices are the biggest obstacles that Turkey is facing in the negotiation process."
Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, Head of EU's Delegation to Turkey, and Mevlud Cavusoglu, former president of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe between 2010 and 2012, also participated in the ceremony.
During his speech, Ripert reaffirmed the EU's commitment to Turkey's membership, while Cavusoglu, a Jean Monnet scholarship holder in 1993-1994 academic year, emphasized the importance of the scholarship in contributing to Turkey's accession process.
100 scholars of Jean Monnet scholarship holders of 2011-2012 academic year are comprised of employees from 21 public institutions, 11 private companies and students from 15 universities, who conducted their academic work in 10 EU countries under 23 EU chapters.
The Jean Monnet Scholarship Program, designed for Turkey, began in the 1990-1991 academic year.
