European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn pressed Turkey on Friday to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus and speed up political reforms to keep accession talks on track.
Speaking after talks with Turkish Economy Minister Ali Babacan, who is also the country's chief EU negotiator, Rehn told reporters: "There is a sense of urgency and it is now the time more clearly to regain the momentum of reforms that enhance the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms."
Rehn said he expected Ankara would open at least one chapter, on research and development, in June. "Maybe another one as well. That's our aim, but at least one chapter should be open in June," he said.
Rehn said the EU expected Turkey to meet its commitment in the so-called Ankara Protocol to open its ports and airports this year to Cyprus under an agreement extending EU customs union to 10 new countries that joined the bloc in 2004.
"We need to see Turkey respect its commitments that it undertook when we opened the accession negotiations," Rehn said. "Turkey signed the Ankara Protocol and that of course implies full implementation of the protocol."
Babacan said reforms would be stepped up and he hoped a 17-point programme of political reform could be completed before parliament went into summer recess.
Nicosia has blocked EU moves to open up direct trade with the north, which has been occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, since Turkish Cypriots voted for a UN peace plan for the divided island in 2004 but Greek Cypriots voted against it.
The EU agreed in February to unblock 139 million euros of aid to Turkish Cypriots but the Greek Cypriots opposed any easing of the embargo, fearing that would grant de facto recognition to the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
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