FULE: "PROGRESS IS MADE BY REFORMS IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS"

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis came together with Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy at the working lunch in the Secretariat General for EU Affairs in Ankara. Bagis made statements at the joint press conference held after the meal.

Bagis indicated that in his meeting with Füle they had exchanged views on the Chapters on which Turkey is working and discussed especially the energy, education and culture chapters in addition to other issues.

Indicating that Turkey would accelerate the reform works undertaken; Bagis reminded that the 2010-2011 action plans would be submitted to the Council of Ministers in that context today. Bagis stated that the expectations of Turkish citizens with regard to visa exemption and the quota imposed on Turkish truck drivers had also been discussed at the meeting.

Egemen Bagis said that he would go to Brussels on 25 March after his visit to Luxemburg and come together with Füle once again there.

Stefan Füle stated that there were benefits both for Turkey and the EU in the process of conducting accession negotiations and this was a process accelerating the reforms on economical, political and social areas in Turkey. Füle said Turkey with its young population meant cultural diversity and a big market for the Europe. Stating that progress in the negotiations has been made through the reforms, Füle said that Turkey had to continue its democracy and market oriented works and make progress in those fields.

Source: AA