The European Union would revive another round of discussions with Turkey after a three-year pause. The talks were scheduled to begin next month after Germany decided to drop its opposition to the country's membership to the EU. Germany's resistance was prompted by the crackdown on the Turkish government of the street protests in the country.
Turkey applied to join EU in 2005. However, political obstacles delayed negotiations. Talks would resume on November 5. According to EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, the process should be hastened to aid Ankara in its quest to apply democratic reforms. Fuele said, "Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey."
According to a Reuters report, some members of the EU bloc would like to take advantage of Ankara's fast growth and increasing influence in the Middle East. Others were more skittish about expanding the EU in countries that border such countries like Iraq, Syria and Iran.
Join the Conversation