EU confirms start of new chapter with Turkey

The European Union’s General Affairs Council has confirmed the opening of Chapter 22, on regional policies, with Turkey, in a move welcomed by the EU’s commissioner for enlargement Stefan Füle. 

The next Accession Conference was also scheduled to take place on Nov. 5, according to an official statement.

Füle said he welcomed the confirmation and the set date for the upcoming conference, adding that recent developments in the country highlighted the importance of EU engagement.

“Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey. To this end, accession negotiations need to regain momentum, respecting the EU’s commitments and established conditionality,” Füle said.

The commissioner further defined the decision as “an important step,” saying the recent EU Progress report released last week provided “a timely contribution to the process leading up to” the opening of the chapter.