HELSINKI
Turkey's aim is to reach European standards in its membership process, the country's EU minister has claimed.
Speaking at a meeting of the Paasikivi Society think tank in Finland, Volkan Bozkir said, "Turkey has no intention of waiting for EU membership for over 50 years."
Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005.
"Our first aim in the beginning was to achieve economic development, but we have already reached that target. Our current goal is to achieve EU standards," Bozkir said during his address on Wednesday.
Bozkir also thanked Finland for its support for Turkey's membership process.
To gain membership, Turkey must successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters, which involve reforms and the adoption of European standards.
So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four have yet to be discussed.
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