Speaking to the press members following the consensus reached on the opening of Chapter 22 of the Negotiation Process with Turkey, titled “Regional Policies and Coordination of Structural Instruments” in the EU General Affairs Council, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that a text concerning the opening of Chapter 22 was agreed with the EU and the EU has taken a decision in line with this agreement. “The text clearly reads that the opening of Chapter 22 is agreed. It was decided that other technical and procedural meetings will be held at a later time suitable for both sides particularly in parallel with the progress report. What is important is that such a decision has been taken and the opening of the chapter has been confirmed with an irrevocable decision” added Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.

Thanking German Foreign Minister Westerwelle for his contribution Foreign Minister Davutoğlu mentioned “One more obstacle in Turkey's relations with the EU has been overcome. For Turkey, EU membership is a strategic vision target. We hope that the EU would also assess Turkey's membership with the same strategic perspective. With this strategic perspective, such as today, possible crises can be avoided easily, mechanisms can step in.”

Emphasizing that what is important is that political concerns should not stand in the way of this strategic perspective, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu also thanked Holland, Sweden and Italy to their contributions.

Underlining that not only chapter 22 but also chapter 23 and 24 whose works were completed should be opened immediately, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stated that these chapters are of importance in terms of human rights and other freedoms.

“I hope we will not go through such a crisis again, even for a short-term, and Turkey-EU train will move to reach its target in the quickest way” stressed Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.