Influential EU states hamper Turkey’s quest for EU membership — official
By KUNA
Certain “political objectives” in agenda of influential member states of the European Union have snagged Turkey’s negotiations for membership in the EU, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The path for Turkey’s membership in the EU has been blocked due to “obstacles placed by some influential states of the union for certain political goals that are not related to the topics of the negotiations,” said Minister of State for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemen Bagis in a statement.
These states are well known, said Bagis, clearly alluding to heavyweights, France and Germany, that have staunchly opposed to granting membership to Turkey, a Muslim nation ruled by a secular regime.
Paris and Berlin have proposed “full partnership” with Ankara, as a substitution to the membership option.
He indicated that only 13 controversial issues out of 35 topics involving Turkey and the EU have been thrashed out.
The remaining ones have remained unresolved due to “groundless political arguments” by the states that oppose the membership, he added.
Bagis indicated that Ankara was determined to press ahead with settling these issues and meeting EU demands and terms, through amendment of certain laws, legislations and rules.
Turkey’s membership in the EU has been subject to debates for many years, with the Europeans demanding, among other things, an improved human rights status and more rights to minorities, namely the Kurds.
