Ankara - Turkish MPs yesterday opened debate on abolishing the death penalty and making far-reaching constitutional reforms to boost their drive to join the EU.
The lawmakers returned to parliament last week, cutting short their summer recess, after the speaker issued a call for an extraordinary session to take up the 37-item package aimed at catching up with EU norms.
The government aims to have the package adopted before November, when EU executives will release a report on Turkey's progress towards membership.