Turkey EU membership was delayed for political reasons, says minister

EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said on Sunday during a press conference that Turkey’s membership in the European Union has been delayed due to political reasons.

“One would wish to see that we were a member of the bloc together with Croatia, the country with which we started negotiation talks at the same time. Yet, so many obstacles and hurdles that have not been put in the way of other countries were put in the way of Turkey’s membership process. Turkey’s membership has been delayed due to political reasons,” Bagis said.

He added that some circles in Europe are concerned about Turkey’s membership as the country is one of the strongest and biggest countries on the continent. “For Turkey, the membership process is far more important that the result of this process. This process is crucial for us to become a more democratic, more transparent and a more respectable country,” Bagis concluded.