Turkey Should Make More Reforms, Minister

BRUSSELS - Turkey`s state minister said on Thursday that Turkey should make more reforms.
Turkish State Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkish government should make more reforms to counter economic fragility.
"What we should do against the closure case (against the ruling Justice & Development Party) which causes economic fragility is to make more reforms," he told a meeting in the Belgian capital of Brussels.
The Economic Development Foundation of Turkey organized a meeting on "Window to Turkey" in Brussels to brief European Union (EU) bureaucrats on Turkey and its economy.
Minister Simsek enumerated planned reforms as social security reform, bill to strengthen revenues administration, bill on labor market, bill to counter unregistered economy, new commerce code, energy market reform and education reform.
Simsek said EU bid is the main engine of recent economic, political and social transformation in Turkey.
"Neither Europe can be without Turkey, nor can Turkey do without Europe," the minister told the gathering.
Simsek reiterated that Turkey would never consent to any formula other than EU full membership.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.
(BRC)