Turkey friendship group to be established in EP

Vural Oger, a German-Turkish European parliamentarian from the Socialist Group, and six fellow MEPs have decided to establish an EP Turkey Friendship Group to support Turkey's EU bid. Graham Watson, the leader of the EP's third-largest group, the Liberals, is also set to take part in the group, which should go into operation officially in the new legislative year. The group, which is anticipated to have a broader participation in the countries and EP, will work to dispel prejudices about Turkey's membership on both sides, ease visa procedures, and solve problems such as quota difficulties.