Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday that Türkiye faces a challenging path toward European Union membership, warning that accession negotiations are expected to be difficult. He spoke at a dinner in Istanbul celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV).
Erdoğan highlighted the progress made since Türkiye formally opened accession talks on 3 October 2005. Introductory screenings have been conducted across 22 chapters, with detailed screenings completed in 18. He said both stages are on track to be finished across all 35 chapters by 3 October 2006.
He noted that Türkiye had submitted position papers on the science and research and education and culture chapters at the EU rotating presidency's request, describing the move as fulfilling the country's obligations.
Erdoğan added that the government had already released a ninth adjustment package addressing political criteria. Once screening work wraps up, he said, a formal road map for the accession process will be published, shaped by the findings of the screening reports. The effort has involved some 1,200 people and the preparation of roughly 10,000 pages of documentation.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.