"DEMOCRATIC EXPANSION IS THE BEST EMBODIMENT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF REFORMS IN TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS"

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis gave a speech at the seminar titled "Scientific Approaches in Turkey's EU Accession". In his speech at the seminar held by the Economic Development Foundation, Turkish Universities Association in European Studies, German Association for European Studies and Yeditepe University Faculty of Law at Istanbul TOBB Plaza, Bagis said that the EU was one of the most enlightened and successful peace projects.

Stating that the EU integration process would be incomplete without Turkey, Bagis said "Turkey's EU membership will complete the integration process."

Indicating that Turkey's membership would not be a simple occurrence such as the membership of any other country and that it would be beneficial both for Turkey and the EU, Bagis elaborated on Turkey's importance for the EU. State Minister Bagis said that being an important country in terms of harmony among the civilizations, Turkey would enable the communication between the east and the west and would contribute to ensuring cooperation, effective communication and overcoming the prejudices in the east and the west.

Informing about the reforms carried out on the way to the EU, Bagis said that Turkey was determined in the process and that her aim was full membership. Bagis emphasized that they attached importance to the EU membership process and that the process itself was at least as important as the membership.

Mentioning the "democratic expansion" which he described as a "flexible and comprehensive work", Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Bagis said that the work did not focus on a specific group but handled the democratic problems in general.

Bagis indicated that the work was the best embodiment for the continuation of the reforms carried out in Turkey's EU membership process. Pointing out the importance of progress in the chapters, Bagis said that more chapters would be opened as the reforms progressed and that the attention should be attached to the reforms not to the number of the chapters opened.

Source: AA