Socialist Euro MPs took the lead on supporting Turkish accession to the EU and calling for the negotiations to be speeded up.

Said Martin Schulz, Socialist Group leader: \"We are convinced that Turkey is fully committed to the reform process. This country can play a pivotal role as a negotiator in the Middle East peace process and in the wider Caucasus region. We want more chapters opened in the EU accession talks, in particular the energy chapter. Bilateral issues should not be an obstacle to accession\".

However, Mr.Schulz stressed that the slowdown of the reform process in Turkey could affect the negotiations.

Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma, Group vice presidents and Socialist shadow rapporteurs, jointly affirmed: \"The negotiations on future Turkish EU accession should be given a new impetus from both sides.

It is now up to Turkey to proceed with concrete reforms in the framework of its new action plan. Progress in 2008 has been limited.

\"The EU at the same time should recognise the importance of Turkey, not least as a strategic transit country for energy and pursue close cooperation in this field\", they said.

The two leading Socialist MEPs call on the Turkish government \"to draw up and implement communication strategies to ensure public for Turkey\'s accession to the EU\".

Welcoming the adoption of a broad reform package needed to bring the country closer to EU, they called on Turkey to insure its \"swift implementation\".

\"The secular character of the Turkish state needs to be maintained in all these reforms\".