Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 14 / Trend E.Ostapenko /
The European Commission's annual strategy on EU enlargement adopted on Oct.14 demonstrates the commitment to the European future of the Western Balkans and Turkey, Olli Rehn EU Commissioner for Enlargement said.
"The enlargement strategy we present today is a demonstration of our commitment to the European future of the Western Balkans and Turkey. In these difficult times of economic crisis, the membership applications of Albania and Montenegro highlight our Union's continued power of attraction and our role in promoting stability, security and prosperity," Rehn added.
The communication highlights the progress the Western Balkans and Turkey made towards European integration during a difficult year of global economic crisis, and spells out the main challenges facing them in the months and years to come.
"Turkey has shown renewed political reform efforts. Progress with its accession negotiations hinges on this momentum, especially the consolidation of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law," Rehn said. "We welcome the recent consultations on an important Kurdish initiative which, I hope, will result in concrete actions for the rights of all Turks."
Negotiations on Turkey's joining the EU have been continuing since 2005. At present the talks at an impasse because of the unwillingness of many European countries, particularly France, to accept Turkey in the EU, which has the problem of human rights, but also because of Turkey's refusal to recognize Republic of Cyprus as the EU member and to open transport connections with it.
Rehn also hailed signing of the Turkey-Armenia protocols on establishment of relations that have been severed since 1993 due to the Azerbaijani-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"I'm encouraged by the historic steps Turkey and Armenia have just taken towards normalizing their relations. This process should now lead to full normalization as soon as possible," Rehn said.
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