Bagis: Recent progress report approves Turkey's reform decisiveness

 The European Union's General Affairs Council has approved talks on the opening of Chapter 22 on regional policies in Turkey's accession to the EU, deciding that an intergovernmental conference for this purpose will be held on Nov. 5. Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated Tuesday that recently published progress report on Turkey, has approved Turkey's reform decisiveness and appreciated Turkey's positive steps. Describing the EU's decision to open Chapter 22 as a "late but positive development," Bagis said, "The opening of the new chapter is important, but spring will not come with the blossoming of only one flower." European commissioner for enlargement also Stefan Fule welcomed the EU's approval of the opening of a new chapter in a statement published on the European Commission's website. "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. In this regard, today's decision represents an important step," Fule said.