BRUSSELS - Portugal attaches importance to progressing negotiations with Turkey, Alvaro de Mendoca E Moura, the Permanent Representative of Portugal to EU, said on Monday.
Portugal will take over the rotating presidency of the EU from Germany at the beginning of July.
Turkey will be one of the most challenging issues the Portuguese Presidency of the EU will deal with for six months, E Moura said during a meeting at the European Policy Center.
"Germany, from which we will take over the presidency, is preparing to launch negotiations with Turkey on new chapters. We will go on the same path," E Moura noted.
On the other hand, "we support every type of cooperation among Mediterranean countries," E Moura said when assessing French President Nicolas Sarkozy`s Mediterranean Union instead of EU proposal.
"But if Sarkozy puts forth an alternative for Turkey other than EU membership, as the rotating president this cannot be our position. There is a process progressing with Turkey, and negotiations continue. The progress report, to be made public by the European Commission, will write about the situation in Turkey, and we will see how far we can progress in the light of these facts. Therefore, the report of the Commission is of utmost importance," E Moura emphasized.