Extracts from the press conference by Štefan Füle, on the EC's adoption of the 2013 Enlargement Package (Turkey)

On 16 October 2013, Štefan Füle, Member of the EC in charge of Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, announced during a press conference that the time has come to put the accession process with turkey back on track. The Commission's 2013 Progress Report on Turkey highlights a number of important steps taken by Turkey over the past 12 months, notably the adoption of a fourth judicial reform package and the start of a peace process to end terrorism and violence in the Southeast of the country. At the same time, the report emphasises the pressing need to develop a truly participatory democracy, able to reach out to all segments of society, as well as the clear requirement to further amend criminal legislation and reform its interpretation by the courts so as to ensure respect for fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. These issues underline the importance for the EU to enhance its engagement with Turkey, especially on fundamental rights, so that it remains the benchmark for reforms in the country.
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