ISTANBUL - An EU official said on Wednesday that the union's cooperation with Turkey would continue.
During a press conference in Istanbul on EU's support for culture and arts, Michael Vogele, head of the "Financial Cooperation, Institution Building Civil Society" section of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey, said that Turkey's negotiations with EU and the technical process continued.
Responding to a question on the closure case filed against Justice and Development (AK) Party, Vogele said he did not want to make any speculations regarding the future of the government, however, EU would continue to cooperate with Turkey.
Vogele also said EU provided financial support for the cultural activities in Turkey.
Referring to EU's decision to make 2008 "the year of intercultural dialogue in Europe", Vogele said numerous activities would be held in European countries and Turkey within this framework.
He said EU currently carried out 15 projects in Turkey within the scope of European Commission's "civil society dialogue" program, adding that a budget of 1.5 million euros was allocated to these projects.
Vogele said EU also contributed to projects supporting the urban transformation and multi-cultural structure of Istanbul, the "European Capital of Culture" for 2010.
In November 2006, the European Council declared Istanbul, together with Pecs city of Hungary and Essen city of Germany, as the European Capital of Culture for 2010.
(DO-MS)