"Copenhagen criteria will be applied equally to Turkey"

DUBLIN (AA) – Irish State Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said that Copenhagen criteria would equally be applied to Turkey.

Roche stated that the decision whether Turkey would start negotiations with the EU would be taken during Netherland’s EU term presidency under the direction of the European Commission’s report on Turkey.

Asked about the possibility of Turkey’s starting negotiations with the EU, Roche said, “I don’t know but the criteria declared by the Union, are quite clear. We are aware of the Turkish government’s efforts for the membership. We see that the Turkish people give huge importance to the issue. But the final decision will not be taken by Irland but by the report evaluating Turkish development.”