Turkey’s economic foundation welcomes results of Turkey-EU summit

ISTANBUL

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu holds a press conference at the end of a summit on relations between the European Union and Turkey and on the migration crisis at the European Council in Brussels on November 29, 2015. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND

Turkey’s Economic Development Foundation (İKV) has welcomed decisions reached at the European Union-Turkey Summit on Nov. 29, stating that they presented a chance to revive Turkey’s accession process to the EU. 

“It is pleasing that a new start has been made in the relations,” read a part of the statement issued on Nov. 30 by the İKV. 

“Making the chance to revive relations [between Turkey and the EU] that evolved due to the migrant crisis depends on the continuation of Turkey’s reforms on democracy and freedom, alongside effective technical and administrative cooperation,” it read. 

İKV welcomed the opening of Chapter 17 in the negotiations process but said this had been on the agenda for around one year, stressing that it was not a new step. 

It said the key to a real and effective development in Turkey’s accession bid was the solving of the Cyprus issue, meaning the issue needed to be handled sensitively and that motivational support needed be given. 

In a meeting on Nov. 29 between the EU and Turkey, Turkey will help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for 3 billion euros in aid to cope with the 2.2 million Syrian migrants in the country, visa liberalization and reinvigorated talks on joining the EU.