Turkey bid for EU membership faces tough talks

ANKARA. December 28. KAZINFORM Turkey-European Union (EU) membership talks are expected to pick up speed beginning 2013 during Irish presidency of the EU Council following two and half year hiatus with no progress on negotiations.
None
None

But the tangible results on deliverables by the EU remain uncertain considering that the EU is facing huge economic problems at home while there is a lingering enlargement fatigue in 27- member economic and political bloc.

What is more, the EU-aspirant Turkey was blocked not only by the EU heavyweights like Germany and France, but also by Cyprus and Austria over their disagreements with Turkey. Most of the negotiation chapters out of 35 any candidate country needs to complete were suspended, leaving only few chapters for a possible opening, Xinhua reports.

However, there are indications that this might change as France, currently blocking five chapters in the EU, has given positive signals in its recent messages to the EU community that it will lift its block on some chapters in an effort to revitalize stagnant Turkey-EU ties. "Ireland officials conveyed to the Turkish EU minister during his visit to Dublin last week that France has given affirmative signs to lift the veto on at least two chapters. That may change the course in Turkish candidacy in 2013," a Turkish government official told Xinhua speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"That is not a full proof guarantee either," the official added.

Read more

Currently reading