EU green-lights new chapter talks with Turkey

The European Union has given the go-ahead for opening a new chapter of accession negotiations with Turkey, the first such move in three years.

EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule welcomed the announcement to open chapter 22 on regional policy, calling it an important step to help revive momentum in negotiations.

"Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey," Fule said Tuesday in a written statement.

He added the EU progress report on Turkey issued last week provided a "timely contribution."

"I hope more chapters will follow," Fule said.

EU General Affairs Council announced on Tuesday that Chapter 22 on 'Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments' would be opened at a mandatory intergovernmental accession conference on Nov 5.

The move is expected to breathe new life into nearly decade-old full membership talks. Negotiations have lost steam in recent years, in particular during the rotating EU presidency of the Greek Cypriot administration due to bitterness over Cyprus island.

Turkey is beginning to receive valuable support for opening new chapters from countries that stand against its full membership into the 28-member bloc, including Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Outgoing EU ambassador to Turkey Jean-Maurice Ripert on Monday expressed hope for continued progress in Turkey's accession talks.

Ripert said if an expected new round of multilateral talks on the Cyprus issue boded well for a comprehensive settlement, that would translate into further strides towards opening chapters 23 & 24 on rights and justice. The two chapters are currently blocked by the Greek Cypriot administration.