The European Union's enlargement chief told Turkey today to speed up political and human rights reforms and to fully implement them.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Turkey on Thursday to speed up its political and human rights reforms and to fully implement them
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also urged Turkey to quickly ratify a protocol extending its customs union with the EU to new member states, including Cyprus, a country Ankara still refuses to recognise.
"I have come to Turkey . . . to encourage you to focus all energies on reforms and the accession process from now on," Mr Rehn told a news conference after meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
"This means vigorously implementing political reforms in the area of rule of law, human rights, women's rights, the rights of religious communities and trade unions. That is, to make the rule of law an everyday reality in all walks of life," he said.
Turkey and the 25-nation EU agreed on Monday to launch entry talks, but only after last-minute haggling over the wording of a roadmap for the negotiations - which reflected deep European reservations about admitting the large Muslim country.
Fears of a big influx of cheap Turkish labour into the EU are a major reason for European public hostility to Turkey's membership, although Turkish officials hope that continued strong economic growth in Turkey will gradually help dispel such concerns.