Swedish FM: EU to be more positive on Turkey's EU accession process

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has signaled that the European Union will have "more positive conclusions" about Turkey's EU accession process this year than it has had in several years. Turkey's EU accession process has come to a standstill over an array of issues on which the two sides have been at loggerheads. Turkey froze what were already stagnant relations with the EU in the second half of 2012, when the Greek Cypriot administration assumed the rotating term presidency. Bildt said via his Twitter account: "We will have more positive conclusions on Turkey's EU accession process this year than we have had for several years. Important at this time." Bildt, a frequent visitor to Turkey, which hosts almost half a million Swedish tourists each year, voiced his support on numerous occasions for the negotiation process between Turkey and the EU, and expressed hope that the obstacles in Turkey's path to accession would be cleared. During his visit to Turkey last year, Bildt stated that the EU would be a stronger global player if Turkey joined its ranks. He has argued in his tweets that the Europeans are convinced that a larger EU means a stronger and more relevant Europe in the world. "Also a key to our contribution to our peace," the Swedish foreign minister said.