BRUSSELS
The European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey's accession into EU has called for opening of chapters on judiciary and fundamental rights so that urgent reforms can be implemented in the country.
The opening of chapters is crucial for Turkey’s membership into the EU.
Dutch Socialist Kati Piri’s draft report on Turkey’s progress regarding its accession into the European Union was discussed at the European Parliament in Brussels Tuesday.
The report called for the opening of EU’s chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights, and chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security. Piri said the EU must engage more with Turkey.
The rapporteur said she included chapter 23 and 24, whose opening the EU has long called for, because reforms on the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom and security sectors were needed urgently.
The advancement of other chapters on public procurement, competition, economic and monetary policy, social policy and employment, and foreign, security and defense policy was also requested in EU’s draft progress report.
The report also encouraged the advancement of EU visa waiver for Turkish nationals, and exchange programs for students and academicians.
The report also supported Turkey’s solution process and said that ''solving the Kurdish issue in Turkey would positively contribute to stability and protection of human rights.''
Out of 35 chapters, 14 chapters have been opened and 17 remain blocked, including chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy and chapter 26 on education and culture, Turkey’s Minister of European Affairs and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkir said on Nov.11, 2014.
