EU rapporteur's draft report discussed and supported by EP

A draft report prepared by Ria Oomen-Ruijten, the European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur, was discussed and supported by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels yesterday. Ruijten has previously requested the opening of two chapters in the negotiation process, namely Chapter 23, on judiciary and fundamental rights, and Chapter 24, on justice, freedom and security, in her Turkey report. Touching on the issue, Ruijten said that the year 2013 was very critical in the sense that constructive relations between Turkey and the EU are further improved and called on the two sides to exert efforts.