Brussels, 12/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 8 November, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle called on the Turkish government to respect the private choices and lifestyles of the Turkish people. His message comes at a time when Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to challenge mixed student residences. “More democracy in Turkey means more respect and recognition of the diversity of the Turkish society. It means more respect for private choices and lifestyles of citizens”, Füle said during his stay in Turkey. Stating that he had spoken about this issue at his meetings with the leaders, Füle believed that this debate was very important. “I hope that it will result in a way that respects the law in Turkey, that respects private choices (…) and also the opinions of those who, here and there, are legitimately concerned”, Füle added, quoted by French news agency AFP.
Continuing reforms. Füle called on Turkey to continue the political reforms and to implement them. “We need more engagement with Turkey, not less”, he said, wanting the dynamic with the opening of a new accession chapter on 5 November to be sustainable (see EUROPE 10957). He said that the “Commission is ready to push for more EU engagement” - without explaining what this means.
Füle reiterated that progress in the accession negotiations and political reforms “are two sides of the same coin”. “We have to strengthen this and maintain it so that accession talks get back on track and stay there - for the benefit of all of us”, he added.
Füle also hoped that the signing of the EU-Turkey readmission agreement and the simultaneous launch of the dialogue on visas might take place before the end of the year. (CG/transl.fl)