Accession of Turkey to the European Union

Aleksandar Vucic expects Serbia to open further chapters - and also close some - in its EU accession talks next year after opening Chapters 32 and 35 on Monday.

It is significant that we maintain peace and stability, and Serbia is on the right track, but it will not have an easy time on it, the prime minister told the RTS.

The European Union has just opened another membership negotiation chapter with Turkey, after a five-year lull in relations as Ankara struggles with serious foreign and domestic problems.

Turkey and the European Union on Monday officially opened a new chapter in the country's accession talks as part of an agreement aimed at helping Europe cope with the migrant crisis, newswires reported.

"EU-Turkey Intergovernmental Conference opens negotiations on Chapter 17 in accession talks," current EU president Luxembourg said, according to AFP.

Turkey has set to revive its efforts to join the European Union by beginning to discuss and negotiate on a new chapter on Dec. 14, as part of a major deal to help Europe solve its migration crisis.

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. 

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. 

Turkey is coming under increased pressure from European partners to make a return to, irrespective of what it's called, the "peace process," the "Kurdish opening" or "to strive for national togetherness" - whatever that means.