The bi-annual meeting that brings together three senior EU officials and Turkish leaders took place in Ankara today. EU’s current president Slovenia’s FM Dimirtij Rupel, the Minister of EU Affairs Jean Pierre Jouyet of the incoming president France, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn met with Turkish FM Ali Babacan. After the meeting Olli Rehn repeated their expectation that Turkey adopt the Union's Venice criteria on party closures and the Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel said that the 27-member bloc was "concerned" by the case against the AKP, stressing that 2008 would be a crucial year for Turkey's troubled accession process, a decisive year for the reform process, which should not be lost.
The EU broke its silence on the inappropriate use of force by Turkish police during May Day celebrations last week. Rehn said, “We in the Commission deplore the disproportionate use of force on the 1st of May", adding that the Commission expected the events to be investigated.
Source: Hurriyet, Turkey, May 6, 2008
