Commenting on the headscarf debate in Turkey, EPP-ED Member and European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, said today: "Europe is not to be involved and has no judgments on the proposal to allow students at Turkish universities to wear a headscarf. The European Court of Human Rights has in its 'Sahin judgment' ruled that this decision has to be taken by a Member State itself and equally by Turkey which is a Member of the Council of Europe. But I am concerned that this current heated debate in Turkey might lead from lifting the prohibition to a moral pressure for women to wear the headscarf in universities."

Turkey has declared to speed up the reforms in order to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. "I am asking Turkish politicians to really take on the reforms that were promised last year, for example concerning the freedom of expression. The proposed Law on Foundations, which concerns the freedom of religious minorities in order to allow them to function freely, is on the Parliament's agenda but has been surpassed by the headscarf issue. This is worrying", said Oomen-Ruijten.

As Prime Minister Erdogan, as well as the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, have promised on various occasions that 2008 will be the year of reforms, Ria Oomen-Ruijten has called on them to stick to their word. "The credibility in Europe and in their own country is at stake. Turkey can only become a democratic and prosperous state when commitments made are pursued with full speed."