Verheugen optimistic about Turkey’s reform process

"Turkey may undertake a basic role as a bridge between the East and West with its history and culture in the EU," Verheugen added.

When asked whether Turkey’s accession to the EU would end the union, Verheugen said that he did not agree with this view, adding that the EU and the Turkish government signed the Ankara Agreement approving that Turkey might a be an EU member forty years ago.

Recalling that the EU’s enlargement process also covers Turkey, Verheugen said that the EU should also change and realize its institutional reforms. "If the EU cannot overcome the problems ahead, it will be an absurd community of countries that cannot do anything. It will remain an economic giant but a political dwarf," he added.

Verheugen stated that the start of accession negotiations with Turkey was not left in a ‘month of Sundays’, underlining that the talks would be launched in 2005 if the EU commission’s report to be prepared about Turkey at end the end of 2004 is positive.