Raad opent nieuw hoofdstuk in onderhandelingen met Turkije (en)

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 22 October 2013 (OR. en) PRESSE 434

The Council opens a new chapter in accession negotiations with Turkey

The Council agreed today to confirm the EU common position for the opening of chapter 22 on regional policy and coordination of structural instruments with Turkey, and to convene an Accession Conference at Ministerial level on 5 November in Brussels

The General Affairs Council on 25 June already agreed to open Chapter 22 and underscored that the Inter-Governmental Conference with Turkey would take place after the presentation of the Commission's annual progress report and following a discussion of the General Affairs Council

Since the start of the negotiations with Turkey in 2005, thirteen chapters have been opened, of which one (chapter 25 on science and research) has been provisionally closed. Chapter 22 on regional policy and coordination of structural instruments is the fourteenth chapter to be opened. The last chapter, on food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy (chapter 12), was opened in June 2010

EU accession negotiations are divided into 35 chapters (policy fields) each of which is negotiated separately