"EU to give Turkey market economy status
By Paul Taylor and Paul de Bendern
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will declare Turkey to be a 'functioning market economy' next month in a fresh boost for its European Union membership bid, a senior EU source said on Thursday.
Having a functioning market economy is one of the conditions for joining the EU and the Commission's award of the coveted status in its next annual progress report on November 9 could help accelerate accession negotiations on economic topics.
'The regular report is going to say for the first time that Turkey can be considered a functioning market economy. That helps for the opening of economic (negotiating) chapters and should support economic stability and foreign investment,' the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity."
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