EU to open accession talks with Turkey on June 12

The ABHaber (EUNews) news portal, based on its EU sources, claims that the EU Council of Foreign Ministers will convene in Luxembourg on June 12 to open the actual accession talks if no unforeseen eventuality arises before then, Cihan News Agency informs.

Turkey and the Union have been carrying out orientation meetings and screening of Turkey's legal regulations since 3 October 2005 when the EU decided to open talks with Turkey.

The EU and Turkish officials are expected to commence actual accession talks on the chapter of "Science and Technology" whose screening process has been successfully completed.

The opening of actual talks, even of a single chapter, is expected to strengthen the position of reformists in Turkey, including that of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The actual accession talks were expected to commence in the spring of 2006.

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