TURKEY- EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETING

Attending the 65th Meeting of Turkey- EU Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis made opening remarks of the meeting and replied the questions of the members of the parliament in Europe.

In the meeting in which the negotiation process and the present situation of Turkey- EU relations were addressed, Bagis said that Turkey experienced the most democratic, transparent and prosperous time in its history thanks to the stable reforms in the path towards the EU membership.

Under the title of "Turkey- EU cooperation in International Fight against Terrorism", the issues such as the current situation of the international cooperation and the steps to be taken in order to develop that cooperation further were also discussed.

Mentioning his expectations from the EU about the fight with terrorism, Bagis reminded that cooperation should be provided on extraditing the members of the terrorist organizations to Turkey.

Bagis touched upon the visa problem and said: "The moment my citizens feel themselves the least European is the time when they wait in visa queues in front of the consulate generals of the EU member states. Bagis also remarked that they were ready to conclude the readmission agreement, but they hoped EU member states to compromise with each other and delegate the EU Commission in this respect.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis reminded that Turkish side always favored solution to the Cyprus issue and attempted for that purpose several times.

Source:AA