Statement: EU-Turkey: Ministerial dialogue in Brussels

On 10 February 2014, High Representative / Vice-President Catherine Ashton and European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu and Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu for political dialogue in Brussels.

They discussed the adoption of Turkey's 4th judicial reform package as well as the democratisation package. The regional policy chapter was opened, talks on visa liberalisation started and the readmission agreement was signed in addition to that. They also discussed the recent developments in Turkey, especially the importance of an independent judiciary and the internet law adopted by the parliament on 5 February 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU urges Turkey to change internet law http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-urges-turkey-to-change-internet-law/

ESO: Background information: Statement by President Barroso following the meeting with Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey / Turkish premier Erdogan resists EU call to rethink legal reforms http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-statement-by-president-barroso-following-the-meeting-with-prime-minister-erdogan-of-turkey-turkish-premier-erdogan-resists-eu-call-to-rethink-legal-reforms/

The Huffington Post, 08.03.14: Turkish President Gül: There Is No Stepping Back From Freedoms http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/08/no-stepping-back-from-freedoms_n_4926384.html

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