A further step has been taken towards building a bridge between Turkey and the European Union. The bloc has opened negotiations in Brussels today on two more reform projects as part of Ankara’s bid to join the union.

This brings to five the number of so-called “chapters” Turkey has opened with the EU. Before membership can be accepted, 35 of these reform projects must be completed. Talks today are focused on health and consumer protection, as well as transport networks. Brussels is hoping to open two or three other chapters in the first half of 2008.

However, eight others have been blocked since the end of last year because of Ankara’s refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus.

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