EU-Turkey: Need to re-engage in reforms in line with EU standards
11 Apr 2014 01:11 PM
Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, met with Turkish
Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in
Brussels this week to discuss how to intensify the dialogue on key elements of
EU-Turkey relations.
n the bilateral meeting they agreed on close
cooperation in areas of mutual benefit for the EU and Turkey, in
particular in the area of rule of law. Commissioner Füle expressed the
EU's concerns about recent developments in Turkey that undermine the
independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression.
He underlined that Turkey, as a candidate country eager to move
forward in the accession negotiations, now urgently needs to re-engage fully in
the reform process in line with European standards. "We need to change
the way in which we cooperate as regards the accession negotiations. This is
particularly important for the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
We need to intensify our dialogue at all phases of policy and law making on
these issues which are at the very centre of the accession process. They must
be treated as an absolute priority. We also need to work closely on the
assessment of the existing legislation," Commissioner Füle
stressed.
He also welcomed the good cooperation with
Turkey on the visa dialogue. The first assessments have already
started and further ones have been planned. Turkish cooperation on this issue
is of utmost significance.
Commissioner Füle and Minister
Çavuşoğlu also discussed the modernisation of the Customs Union.
After their meeting Commissioner Füle delivered an opening speech at
the event organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels to
launch the report on the evaluation of the EU-Turkey Customs
Union.(see Commissioner Füle's
speech)