Volkan Bozk

Turkey has passed a new law to introduce a new version of identity cards for its citizens, as part of steps toward becoming a European Union member state.

The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (T?M) recently launched its "Turkey: Discover the Potential" campaign. 

The day that the campaign was launched, a family photo appeared in the papers. Among the figures in the picture were Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, T?M Chair Mehmet Büyükek?i, and EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r, but there was not even a single woman. 

Ankara is planning to offer Syrian refugees work permits in order to encourage fewer of them to migrate to Europe, Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r said Jan. 11, amid pressure from the EU to reduce the flow of migrants from Turkey. 

There is no doubt that 2016 will be marked as the year of the EU for Turkey. This is particularly the case following the joint statement issued on Nov. 29 last year aiming to re-energize accession talks in return for an agreement on the refugee crisis. 

A quick glance at the immediate Turkey-EU calendar proves the intensification of dialogue:

Turkey's government is set to provide a defense at the European Court of Human Right (ECHR) over curfews in Southeast Anatolia, where security forces have been conducting operations against militants.  

The responsibility for re-energizing Turkey's accession process will belong to the European Union even in the event that the ongoing Cyprus talks fail to produce a breakthrough, Turkey's EU minister has said, asking the bloc to keep its promises toward Ankara.

Six EU commissioners will visit Turkey in March 2016 for a high-level economic platform meeting, the Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r has said, while also noting that Turkish and EU officials would gather in January within the framework of a high-level energy dialogue mechanism.

Talks between Ankara and the European Union about updating Turkey's customs union will begin next year, EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozk?r said on Dec. 14. 

A "reform action group" will be convened on Dec. 11 in a bid to coordinate future moves to harmonize Turkey's legislation with EU standards, amid the recent energization of Ankara's EU accession process. 

As part of preparations for the prospective lifting of visa regulations for Turks traveling to the EU's Schengen countries, starting from late 2016, Turkey is expected to renew both its official identity cards and passports.