Bagis rules out any outcome for Turkey's EU talks besides full membership

Speaking to French daily Le Monde yesterday, State Minister and chief negotiator for European Union talks Egemen Bagis said there is no option for Turkey's EU accession talks besides full membership. Stressing that Turkey would never accept "privileged partnership" proposals, he said, "Turkey will either be a full EU member, or it will never be a member of the Union." Such proposals have no legal grounds, and Turkey is already in Europe with the Customs Union Agreement, and its membership in European institutions and organizations, he added, also pointing to the more than 5 million Turkish citizens living across Europe.