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EU to start fresh Turkey accession talks within few days

Wednesday, 22 June 2016 4:35 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 22 June 2016 4:36 PM ]

In this file photo, flags of Turkey (R) and the European Union are seen fluttering in front of a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. (© AP)

The European Union is scheduled to open a new round of negotiations over Turkey’s accession to the 28-member politico-economic bloc within the next few days.

An EU diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that EU member states will sit together on June 30 to reach a consensus on opening a new negotiating chapter with Turkey on finance and budget affairs.

European Union leaders pledged in March to speed up Turkey’s EU membership process in exchange for help on the refugee crisis.

On March 18, an agreement was clinched in Brussels between then Turkish prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, and the EU to curb the huge flow of asylum seekers and refugees heading to Europe.

Under the agreement, Turkey has accepted a series of measures aimed at curbing the inflow of refugees from the country to Greece in return for some benefits, including billions of dollars in aid, visa-free travel for Turks to Europe and, more significant than all, acceleration in the EU’s processing of Turkey’s long-awaited bid for membership in the continental body.

Critics say Ankara is using the EU refugee crisis as a platform not only to get money but also to make a fresh push on talks over Turkey's membership in the EU and visa-free travel for Turks to Europe's Schengen zone.

The EU lawmakers have in return said that they would hold Turkey to EU press freedom and other standards in the accession talks.

Ankara's accession has become a hot-button issue in the run-up to Thursday's Brexit referendum, especially as supporters of the “Leave” camp argue that the membership will open the doors for millions of Turks to enter Britain.

Even though British Prime Minister David Cameron's official position is to back Ankara's membership, he says it will take years for Turkey to join the EU.

Turkey, which straddles Asia and Europe, entered formal membership talks with the EU in 2005, but the bloc has opened 15 chapters out of the 35 required for Ankara’s accession. Only one chapter has been completed so far.

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