Two new chapters to be opened in Turkey-EU conference on Dec. 18

The new chapters would be opened during the upcoming conference, French Secretary of State Jean-Pierre Jouyet, who attended a reception held on the occasion of the 85th foundation anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Paris, was quoted as saying by the Anatolian Agency.�

Jouyet said France, as EU's rotating president, desired to open more than two chapters to negotiation with Turkey, however, due to certain developments beyond his country's control, it might not be possible to open a third chapter. �

According to diplomatic sources, the two chapters to be opened to negotiation are "free movement of capital" and "information society and media".

The opening of chapter on "energy", for which Turkey is technically ready, is suspended due to several objections within EU, sources also said.

The EU opened the negotiations on two chapters, "company law" and "intellectual property law", in June, bringing the number of policy areas Turkey has opened since it began accession talks in 2005 to eight. �

Although the opening of two new chapters signals progress in membership negotiations, 15 of 35 chapters remain suspended. The EU had suspended eight chapters in December 2006 due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels before the Union ends its isolation of Turkish Cypriots.�