mon 14 dec 2015, 18:59

EU opens chapter for accession, Turkey

BRUSSELS –

New negotiations with Turkey on accession to the European Union on Monday officially kicked off. That is seen as a reward for the commitment of Turkey to people smugglers to tackle and prevent refugees the step to Europe.

EU-buitenlandchef Federica Mogherini (photo) left Monday night to know that accession of Turkey to the EU is a matter of long breath.
Photo: EPA

The European ministers of Foreign Affairs gave on Monday a permission to start the negotiations on chapter 17 to open, which is about economic and monetary policy. About less than half of the 35 chapters to be negotiated. Only one chapter is closed.

“A strategic partnership with Turkey is necessary”, said Luxembourg’s minister Jean Asselborn, who the consultation was set to endure. He spoke of the “show of good will”.

On behalf of Turkey was foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. EU-buitenlandchef Federica Mogherini said Monday night that accession was a matter of long breath.

To accede to the EU must meet a range of conditions to be satisfied, inter alia, in the field of human rights and freedom of the press. Various government leaders, including prime minister Mark Rutte, have charged that these criteria are not gemorreld. Rutte said recently that the dozens of can take years before Turkey joins, if it is already that far.

Turkey is already a long time a candidate-member state of the EU, but in 1999 opened negotiations in 2006, on a lower priority. Now Europe Turkish and in need of help, the discussions revived again. Turkey gets to start three billion euros to the circumstances of the approximately 2 million refugees in that country to improve. Also Turks in the prospect that they might have a year without a visa to Europe can travel.