PM to go to Brussels to revive EU process

Agence France Presse

Erdoğan would meet European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso as well as EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering and the leaders of political groups represented in the assembly, the statement said. The talks would focus on Turkey's bid to join the EU, but regional issues will also be discussed, it said.

Turkey last week appointed a new chief negotiator, Egemen Bağış, a close aide of Erdoğan -- to lead the country's membership negotiations. Turkey's accession talks began in October 2005 after a series of far-reaching democracy reforms.

Ankara has so far opened talks in 10 of the 35 policy areas that candidates must successfully negotiate amid a trade row over Greek Cyprus, which it does not recognise, and strong opposition from some EU members to its accession. Eight policy areas remain frozen because of Ankara's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot use under a customs union pact with the EU.

The government discussed the country's EU bid at a cabinet meeting Monday and voiced determination to revive the reform process.