Reform Action Group

Turkey's top priority in its agenda with the European Union is visa liberalization, which will allow Turkish citizens visa-free travel in the Schengen area, said a joint declaration of the sixth meeting of the Reform Action Group.

Turkey will hold the sixth Reform Action Group meeting for the first time under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Europe Day when the government's political, economic and legal reforms for the stalled EU process will be discussed.

The Turkish government pledges for further reform in judiciary with plans to reveal judicial reform strategy in January that will be action plan the next five years after having discussions with other stakeholders, Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül said on Dec. 11 after Reform Action Group meeting.

The Turkish government is set to hold this year's second Reform Action Group meeting on Dec. 11, resuming the talks after a three-year pause in a move signaling its determination to join the European Union.

The Turkish government will resume the "Reform Action Group" meetings on Aug. 29, after a three-year break, in a sign Ankara is stepping up efforts to revive ties with the EU. 

With the EU clearing the path for the opening of at least one of the five chapters currently closed in Turkey's long-stalled accession process, Ankara has turned its attention to a series of legislative reforms. 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters that there were “strong signals” that Cyprus would remove its veto on five negotiation chapters for Turkey’s accession to the EU. After the Reform Action Group meeting composed of EU, interior and justice ministers, Davutoglu said that a blockade on five chapters could be lifted.

Dec. 14 will mark another important day in Turkey's bumpy EU accession process, as an EU intergovernmental conference will convene to open Chapter 17 on economy and monetary policy, nearly two years after Turkey opened the last one. Chapter 17 will be the 15th chapter Turkey has been able to open out of 35, with only one chapter provisionally closed so far.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said there were "strong signals" that Greek Cyprus would remove its veto on five negotiation chapters Ankara has demanded the opening of in a bid to accelerate Turkey's EU accession process. 

Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala has attempted to justify the government's controversial homeland security bill by referring to the EU's 2014 Progress Report on Turkey, which stated that "reforms are needed to improve civilian scrutiny of the military, the police, the gendarmerie and the intelligence services."