22/12/2009
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Turkey opened another chapter of its accession talks with the EU on Monday (December 21st), bringing the total to 12 of 35 chapters. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said that opening the chapter on the environment indicates "Turkey is taking a qualitative step towards a more demanding stage in the negotiations." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara had hoped "to have moved more chapters for negotiations", but added "the opening of today's chapter shows our determination to move forward." (Anadolu news agency, DPA - 21/12/09)