DHAKA: European Union governments agreed on Tuesday to hold a new round of accession talks with Turkey on November 5 after Germany dropped its opposition voiced after Ankara’s crackdown on anti-government protests earlier this year.

The launch of a new ‘chapter’ of negotiations with the EU membership candidate comes after a three-year hiatus in Turkey’s bid during which no new areas of negotiations were opened.

EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele said the 28-member bloc’s accession talks with Turkey should be speeded up to help Ankara implement democratic reforms, reports The Jerusalem Post.

‘Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey.’

Earlier this month, the European Commission praised recent judicial reforms in Turkey and the government’s announcement last month of a package of laws designed to salvage a peace process with Kurdish insurgents.

BDST: 1922 HRS, OCT 22, 2013
RoR/GCP