GERMANY WILLING TO HELP REVIVE TURKEY’S STALLING EU BID

Istanbul, 6 Muharram 1437/19 October 2015 –  Germany wants to kick off negotiations for the Economy and Monetary Policy chapter as part of Turkey’s EU membership process, the German chancellor said on Sunday.

“We want to open Chapter 17 — Economy and Monetary Policy — in Turkey’s membership bid,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a press conference with Turkish Prime Minster Ahmet Davutoglu during her one-day official visit in Istanbul, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Merkel added that the chapters 23 and 24 — on rights and freedoms, as well as judicial matters — could be discussed and proceed “step by step”.

Turkey has successfully completed the negotiations for 14 out of the 35 accession chapters, while 17 remain blocked.

Ankara applied for EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005. But Turkey has since then seen very little progress amid opposition to its membership in some EU countries, including France.

The German chancellor’s visit comes after an EU summit in Brussels called on Friday for the implementation of an action plan with Turkey — which came complete with several economic and political incentives for Ankara — to stop the flow of refugees into Europe. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)