Visit by EU's Barroso, Rehn coming at critical time

European Union Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will pay a visit to Turkey on April 10-12. Barroso and Rehn will meet with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and representatives of other political parties and non-governmental groups. The two high-level EU officials are expected to urge Turkey to continue its reform efforts and to strengthen its ties with the EU. Although the visit isn't directly related to the case seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) or rising political tension, and it was scheduled before these developments, it is seen as taking place during a critical period for Turkey. Rehn and other EU officials have condemned the closure case and warned that the EU could suspend Turkey's accession talks. In related news, European Parliament Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten yesterday said Turkey should change its Constitution through compromise as soon as possible, stressing the importance of the judiciary's independence. Oomen-Ruijten also said rising political tension and recent developments on the closure case have hurt Turkish markets but this situation shouldn't slow down reform efforts or Ankara's pledge to focus on reforms this year.