Turkey’s EU membership is not a ‘given’: Swedish FM

Turkey's prospect of joining the European Union at the end of a lengthy process is not a certainty, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told AFP Sunday, saying efforts would have to be made by both Ankara and Brussels.

“Nothing is given in the world.

Nothing is given in life,” Bildt, a strong advocate of Turkey's EU bid, said in the western city of Izmir, a day after addressing Turkish ambassadors from around the world during an annual gathering.

“It requires efforts by both sides.

It requires a continued reform process in Turkey, and it requires a continued open attitude by the European Union.”

Turkey launched formal accession talks with the European bloc in 2005 but they have made little progress because of the quarrel with Cyprus as well as stiff opposition from some EU member states.

Brussels has opened only 13 of the 35 policy chapters that every state must negotiate in order to join the bloc. Just one chapter has been successfully closed.

AFP