EU commissioner reassures Turkey over bid to join

A European Commissioner reassured Turkey on Friday that its membership bid was on track, days after Turkish leaders aired suspicions that some EU members were stalling the entry of a Muslim country to the club.
"We need Turkey and Turkey needs the EU," Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries told journalists during a visit to Istanbul.
"I have believed that for years," said Damanaki, a Greek former politician.
Last month's referendum result on constitutional reform in Turkey was a big positive, she said. The changes are meant to bolster Turkey's democracy and lessen chances of military coups that have blighted the country's history.
Passage of EU-related legislation is a priority for Turkey's parliament, and a bill on competition regulations was due to be presented to it on Friday. Yet, out of 35 "chapters" — or subject areas for negotiation on EU entry — Turkey has only completed one and opened 13 others, leaving 21 to go.
Eighteen are blocked, mostly due to an impasse over Cyprus, an EU member that Turkey has refused to recognise.
Impatient with the slow progress, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan vented frustration on Wednesday, saying: "If you do not want Turkey in the Union, you should say it."
Supporters of Turkey's bid argue that the addition of such a young, large nation and fast growing economy would inject much needed dynamism to Europe. Opponents, however, doubt the wisdom of admitting a Muslim country with large numbers of poor.
The Commission is finalising its annual report on how Turkey is progressing on EU requirements, and an impasse over Cyprus will be seen as the main outstanding problem.
Damanaki vouched for the Commission's commitment to the accession process saying: "We're following the good road."
Turkey suspects some countries of hiding behind the Cyprus issue to block its entry.
"Unfortunately we are experiencing some difficulties in the EU process and we believe that Germany should play an active role together with France in solving them," Erdogan told a news conference before leaving for Germany where he will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday.
Turkey has still to fulfil a commitment — known as the Ankara Protocol — to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus.
"We have to find a solution. Everyone will win if we find a solution," said Damanaki. "Now there is a discussion in much more detail and on different approaches."
She said the Commission had forwarded to the Council of EU member states and the European parliament a draft regulation on trade with the Turkish north, and it was now in their hands.