Thursday, December 21, 2006

EU takes step forward in Turkey accession

"EU takes step forward in Turkey accession
By David Brunnstrom and Darren Ennis

THE EUROPEAN Union took a step forward in accession talks with Turkey yesterday, just over a week after partially freezing negotiations due to Ankara's refusal to open ports to Cyprus.
EU ambassadors backed a 'screening report' on how Turkey's enterprise and industry policies relate to EU requirements, after Cyprus, for the first time in months, did not obstruct a step in its rival's accession talks, officials said.

Approval of the screening report is an initial move towards launch of one of the chapters, or policy areas, into which EU accession talks are split. Turkey has completed just one of 35 chapters since beginning its accession talks in October 2005."

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