EU criticizes Turkey for protest clashes, backs further accession talks

The European Commission on Wednesday criticized Ankara for using "excessive force in response to a major wave of protests" earlier this year, but backed the plan of opening a new chapter for Turkey's accession talks. In an annual report on Ankara's progress in the long path of joining the 28-member bloc, the Commission called for further democratic reforms in Turkey, including peace talks aimed at ending terrorism and violence in the country's southeastern part. Turkey should make more efforts on consulting the civil society during the law-making process, as well as protecting people's fundamental rights and freedoms, said the report. In June, the EU postponed the negotiation progress of a new chapter on regional policy after a peaceful sit-it in Istanbul against the renovation project of a local park snowballed into a nationwide movement and police forces clashed with protestors. The report also acknowledged Turkey as a functioning market economy, while warning of the country's economic vulnerability associated with its large current account deficit. The report underlined the importance for the EU to enhance its engagement with EU, suggesting that the opening of chapter 22 on regional policy would be an important step. So far only 13 out of the 33 necessary chapters have been opened for accession negotiations, with one of which being provisionally closed. Ankara started accession talks with the EU in October 2005, since which the process has been hampered by its dispute with Cyprus and the resistance from a few EU countries including Germany and France.