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Turkey announces new strategy for EU membership

ISTANBUL, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- Turkish Minister of EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir announced Thursday the new European Union Strategy aiming to eliminate the obstacles on Turkey's path to the EU membership by accelerating the dynamics of Turkey-EU relations.
" Prioritising Turkey's interests and benefits of the citizens, the new strategy will lead to a boost in the reform process and establishment of new communication channels between Turkey and the EU," according to a statement by the ministry.
"The strategy is the first step for the concrete commitment declared in the Programme of the 62nd Government. It was presented by Volkan Bozk?r, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, to the Council of Ministers on 15 September 2014," the statement noted.
Prepared around the principles of determination, continuity and effectiveness, the strategy has three main pillars: Political Reform Process, Socio-Economic Transformation in the Accession Process and EU Communication Strategy.
It will become operational upon adoption of the "National Action Plan for the EU Accession" and "European Union Communication Strategy" in November, the statement added.
In 2005 Turkey was nominated for EU membership and 14, out of the 35 chapters of the EU community acquis, have been completed so far. (end) ta.mb