ANKARA
Turkish parliament speaker Cemil Cicek said Thursday that the EU "must have had very important subjects to deal with," since the organization has not allowed Turkey to join for 52 years.
Cicek spoke about Turkey's long EU accession journey during the Turkey-European Union 76th Joint Parliamentary Commission.
While Cicek accepted Turkey's deficiencies in its accession process, he urged the EU to be "self-critical," recalling that certain countries had become members despite the fact that they had failed to fulfill certain criteria that Turkey had.
"We established a ministry to show the importance we give to the EU, but the ministry itself is becoming dysfunctional," Cicek said.
After signing a partnership agreement with the European Economic Community in 1963, Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005.
To gain membership, Turkey must successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters, which include reforms and the adoption of European standards.
So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four have yet to be discussed.
Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said that joining the EU "has always been a priority" for Turkey.
Bozkir said Turkey has been dedicated and patient regarding the issue for the past 52 years, "Even though joining the organization does not have economic urgency for Turkey. It is Turkey's desire to bring the country to the level of the EU in human rights, democracy, environment, food hygiene and social rights."
- Main opposition CHP did not attend meeting
Lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, did not attend the meeting.
"I want to express both my difficulty in understanding why the CHP boycotted this meeting and my sadness," Bozkir said.
Bozkir also condemned the party's attitude, saying the CHP needs to be a party that plays a leading role in the EU accession process.
- Bozkir headed to Brussels
Turkey's EU Minister headed to Brussels to meet with high-ranking EU Commission officials, such as: European Commissioner for the portfolio of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights Frans Timmermans, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, Vice-President of the Euro & Social Dialogue in the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner responsible for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella and European Commissioner responsible forClimate Action & Energy Miguel Arias Canete.
During his two-day visit to Brussels, Bozkir will have meetings to pave the way for opening Chapter 17 regarding economic and monetary policies.
