Assessments of Mr. Minister regarding the decision of EU Council on Chapter 22

The Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemen Bağış stated that “I welcome the opening of Chapter 22 (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments), which will be quite meaningful in the context of resolution process Türkiye is passing through. Opening of this chapter was an ordinary process, not extraordinary. Nevertheless, from now on, the opening of Chapters 23 and 24 having a political nature in the framework of the sensitivities in this process are also important, as underlined by Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Stefan Füle, Commissioner Responsible from Enlargement. Türkiye’s EU objective is a state policy and a strategic objective.

General Affairs Council (GAC) held on 25 June 2013 agreed to open Chapter 22. It was also underscored that the Inter-Governmental Conference with Türkiye will take place after the presentation of the Commission’s annual progress report and following a discussion of the GAC which will confirm the common position of the Council for the opening of Chapter 22 and determine the date for the accession conference.

GAC Decision can be reached through http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/137597.pdf.