Turkey will be patient over EU accession but will continue to drive domestic improvements
Turkey should be patient with regard to European Union (EU) accession, but it will continue to face its own issues such as living standards in the mean time, Turkish minister of State Ali Babacan has stated.
Mr Babacan, Turkey's chief negotiator in EU accession talks, briefed the country's parliament on Wednesday and said it would be "patient and right-minded" on the subject, the New Anatolian reports.
Despite stalled talks on accession, Mr Babacan insisted that progression relating to food, environment and health would continue to be pushed.
He said that "postponing catching up with high standards of living and not taking necessary steps in environmental issues" would not be in Turkey's favour and said that the country will face "hard issues" and will "resolve those problems".
The Cyprus issue remains the largest potential block to Turkey's joining the EU, and Mr Babacan said that if that is resolved, "all the chapters will be opened in the negotiation process".
If Turkey was to accede to the EU, its economy would receive a considerable boost, and its pledge to drive improvements in the meantime make it an increasingly attractive investment opportunity.
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