Volkan BozkÄ

Turkey’s difficulties during the EU accession process are mainly due to the negative perception that some EU member countries still have of Turkey, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır has said.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu says Turkey’s EU perspective remains one of his government’s strategic objectives. The fact that Volkan Bozkır, a former ambassador who knows Europe well, has been appointed as EU minister is a good sign in this regard.

Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was appointed the new foreign minister to replace Ahmet Davutoğlu, while Volkan Bozkır took over the EU Ministry after the new Cabinet was announced on Aug. 29.

Çavuşoğlu is familiar with European institutions and EU affairs, having remarkable experience in the Council of Europe.

The Turkish government claims that the Kürecik radar base is not designed to protect Israel, while the opposition loudly insists it is.