Fule calls for acceleration in negoratiations

Speaking at the joint news conference after 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Accession Conference in Brussels yesterday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule called for an acceleration in negotiations and said two more chapters on rights and freedoms, and justice and security, chapters 23 and 24, could be opened "very hopefully much sooner than in three-and-a-half years." Fule underlined that Turkey is and remains an important partner for the European Union and the developments in Turkey over the past year underline the importance of continuous EU engagement and the EU remaining the benchmark of reform in Turkey. "We need more engagement, not less. That is why I hope very much that we'll not be waiting another long period before another chapter is being opened," Fule said.