Davutoglu, Bagis discuss Turkey's EU bid

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and State Minister and Chief European Union talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis yesterday met at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara to discuss and coordinate Turkey's EU accession process. "EU membership is Turkey's strategic goal," Davutoglu said at the meeting. He said Bagis had also met with other Cabinet ministers to spur their motivation for EU membership. For his part, Bagis said they exchanged views on the EU's rotating presidency, set to be assumed by Spain next week on New Year's Day, and developments expected in 2010. Bagis also underlined the importance of the EU taking steps on its visa procedures for Turkish citizens, as well as Parliament's passage of EU-related laws. Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999, and began its accession in 2005. Earlier this week Turkey opened the environment chapter, the 12th of 35 EU negotiating chapters, at an intergovernmental conference in Brussels. To close the chapter, Turkey will have to implement new environmental legislation in line with European standards. So far, only one chapter, the generally uncontroversial category of science and research policy, has been closed. Brussels froze talks with Ankara on eight chapters due to its refusal to open ports to shipping from Greek Cyprus. France has also blocked five chapters on the grounds that opening them would lead to full membership for Turkey. In addition, Greek Cyprus recently warned it would veto talks in six more areas in the future (labor mobility, fundamental rights, the justice system, education, foreign policy and energy).