Ukraine many years away from EU membership — Orban

Ukraine is many years away from joining the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a news conference recapping the results of the past year.

Ukraine's Accession to EU to Cost Member States Up to $208Bln - Orban

 Ukraine's accession to the European Union would cost the bloc 150 to 190 billion euros ($164 billion to $208 billion), and the member states would receive less money, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday, citing this as a reason for Hungary's opposition to the allocation of funds from the European budget to Kiev.

Hungary Can Veto Real, Not Hypothetical EU-Ukraine Talks - Hungarian FM

 Hungary will be able to veto accession talks between the EU and Ukraine when they are real and not hypothetical, as now, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

Hungary to stop Ukraine's accession to EU if necessary — Orban

 Hungary will be able to stop the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union if necessary, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

Ukraine needs three international victories

Zelensky said that Ukraine needed to secure three key "victories" abroad, including the approval of major aid packages from the US Congress and the European Union, and a formal start of accession talks to join the EU.

Albania continues talks on maritime border delimitation with Greece

Albanian authorities continued Friday talks over the delimitation of the maritime border with the neighboring Greece, an issue which has sparked strong reactions among Albanian politics and public opinion.

UE: Erdogan rejette toute option autre que "l'adhésion"

Le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan, qui sera en visite lundi en Italie, a rejeté toute option autre qu'une "adhésion" à l'UE, balayant la proposition française d'un simple "partenariat", dans un entretien publié dimanche dans la Stampa.

Premier belga si oppone all'adesione della Turchia all'Unione Europea

La Turchia non dovrebbe diventare un paese dell'UE, ma abbiamo bisogno di sviluppare un partenariato strategico con essa, ha dichiarato il primo ministro del Belgio Charles Michel.

Macron propose un "partenariat" de l'UE avec la Turquie à défaut d'une adhésion

Le président français, Emmanuel Macron, a proposé vendredi à la Turquie un "partenariat" avec l'UE, à défaut d'une adhésion, afin de préserver "l'ancrage" de ce pays en Europe.

Ankara snubs EU decision to halt accession talks

Turkish European Union Minister Ömer Çelik has harshly criticized the EU, declaring that it lacked self-confidence after the bloc unanimously decided not to open new chapters in Turkey’s accession talks.

Steinmeier urges to continue talks on Turkey’s accession to EU

Germany believes it is necessary to continue negotiations between the European Union and Turkey on Ankara’s accession to the EU, German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said on Tuesday following talks with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Austrian MPs call for suspending Turkey’s EU accession

Austrian lawmakers Thursday called for a suspension of Turkey's EU accession process amid the recent detention of a number of opposition deputies and journalists.

European Parliament approves Turkey Accession Report

The European Parliament approved Wednesday Turkey’s 2014 progress report towards EU accession.

The report was adopted by 432 votes in favor, 94 against and 127 abstentions.

Volkan Bozkır,Turkish EU Minister, joins chorus of EU critics

EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır has joined the chorus of critics against EU officials who made comments directed at Turkey over mass media detentions on a day of rest.

Luxembourg supports Turkey's bid for EU accession

 Turkey’s Economy Minister, Nihat Zeybekci on Thursday has obtained the promise of support from Luxembourg for important issues in Turkey's bid for EU admission.

Turkey belongs to Europe, says former Finnish president, Martti Ahtisaari

Turkey belongs to Europe and Europe needs Turkey, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari said Tuesday.

Ahtisaari was Finland's tenth president and also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Štefan Füle/EU-Turkey: Meeting with Minister V.Bozkir in Brussels. (Touching also on the Cyprus issue...)

From the Official Website of the European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 16 October 2014:

"Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle met the Turkish Minister of European Affairs and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır in Brussels today. Commissioner Füle welcomed Minister Bozkir's ongoing commitment to the accession process and assured him of the Commission's support. He expressed his conviction that under the Minister's determined guidance, future reforms will bring Turkey closer to the EU.

"Free trade agreement with Russia until EU accession"

BRUSSELS -- The free trade agreement that Serbia has with Russia will remain in effect until Serbia's accession to the EU, Serbia's negotiator Tanja Miščević has said. 

"We have been told by the EU that all free trade agreements that Serbia has with third-party countries, including the agreement with Russia, will remain in effect until the moment of accession," Miščević told reporters in Brussels, where she is attending the screening on Chapter 30 of the negotiation process, which deals with foreign trade.

Only Serbia and Montenegro could join EU "as package". - Belgrade is against a joint EU entry of all Western Balkan countries "as a package"

VIENNA -- Belgrade is against a joint EU entry of all Western Balkan countries "as a package," says Serbia's chief negotiator in EU talks, Tanja Miščević.

"The only such package possible is one that would include Montenegro besides Serbia," she said on Friday.
"We can only speak of a package that consists of Serbia and Montenegro," she underscored, adding that the two are the only Western Balkan nations that are in EU accession talks at the moment.

In a discussion with Austrian businesspeople and legal experts, organised by the Austrian Economic Senate, Miščević said that Serbia intends to complete its accession talks with the EU by 2018, and that the accession should take place in 2020.

Fresh start needed in Turkey’s EU access bid. -- It is important for the EU to treat Turkey fairly.

A group of European opinion makers has urged an immediate change in Turkish-European Union relations, calling for 2014 to be the year that the sides begin traveling in a new direction.

The Independent Commission on Turkey, headed by 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, yesterday released its third report in Istanbul. 

“In the turbulent times we are living in a stable, democratic and prosperous Turkey is ever more in the vital interest of the EU and Turkey,” stated the report from the commission, which also includes former Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino and former Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van der Broek.