Bagis: We expect from the EU is to see an era where policy chapters are opened and are closed

EU Minister Egemen Bagis said he hoped to make progress in Turkey’s accession process during the rotating presidency of Ireland.

”With the beginning of the term presidency of Ireland, which we know closely and trust, what we expect from the EU is to see again an era where policy chapters are opened and are closed,” Bagis told Anatolia news agency.

Ireland assumed the presidency of the European Union Council on Jan. 1 for six months from the Greek Cypriot administration.

Bagis said Turkey and the EU might open two new chapters on “regional policy and coordination of structural instruments,” and “economic and monetary policy.”

Turkey began talks in 2005 but only completed one of the 35 policy “chapters” every candidate must conclude to join the EU. All but 13 of those chapters were blocked by France, Greek Cyprus and the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm.

Wednesday, January 02, 2013