Fule thanks Ergin for supporting EU reforms

Within the framework of his contacts in Brussels, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule. Speaking in a press conference following the meeting, Ergin criticized the slow pace of Turkey's membership talks with EU. Ergin also thanked Fule for his sincere efforts to ensure that Turkey's EU membership bid is again put on the right track and expressed complaint that certain member countries try to involve subjective opening criteria into chapters. "The screening process was completed in 2006, but we have not received the post-scanning reports of certain chapters in the last six years. In spite of this situation, Turkey is determined to progress on its path to EU membership," Ergin said. Ergin added that the fourth judicial reform package would be dealing with a human rights action plan, certain regulations aimed at improving the conditions at penal institutions, as well as the right to defense in mother tongue. For his part, Fule thanked Ergin for his strong support for EU reforms and stressed importance of the implementation of the fourth judicial reform package.