“The doors of the EU are open to Turkey. We will not break our promise. The route to full membership is continuing,” Frattini said while delivering the opening remarks at the European People’s Party’s (EPP) foreign ministerial-level meeting.
Pointing to parliamentary EU Harmonization Committee Chairman Yaşar Yakış, whom Frattini said was attending the meeting on behalf of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Italian foreign minister called this a sign of the positive and constructive interest of the EU in Ankara. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is an observer member at EPP meetings. The EPP is an umbrella organization of Christian Democrat-style political establishments in Europe and accepted AK Party as an observer member due to its similar structure as a conservative party representing Muslims instead of Christians.
EPP leader Wilfried Martens, who visited Turkey last week to attend the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON)-sponsored World Trade Bridge meeting, also participated in the meeting. Speaking to Today’s Zaman last week, Martens said that he has very good relations with AK Party officials. European policy-makers were expected to discuss the EU enlargement process, particularly regarding the Balkans, and the Middle East peace process during the two-day meeting in Assisi, Italy.
