Stockholm - Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt Wednesday welcomed the opening of talks between the European Union and Turkey on bringing Turkey's tax laws into line with those of the bloc as his country assumed the rotating EU presidency. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the visiting European Commission, Reinfeldt "welcomed" the Czech Republic, which ended its presidency Tuesday, having succeeded in that regard.
"I am now reviewing if it is technically possible to open other chapters," Reinfeldt said, noting that two possible coming negotiating subjects likely concerned environment and competition.
Reinfeldt added that Turkey also needed to carry out necessary adjustments of its legislation so new chapters would be opened.
Turkey began EU accession talks in 2005, but France and Germany, in particular, are strongly against the idea of letting it into the 27-member bloc, proposing a "privileged partnership" instead.
The Swedish premier was Friday due to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Stockholm.
Reinfeldt said that during meetings Wednesday with the European Commission, he did not raise the possiblility of opening new chapters with Turkey.
Talks have begun on 11 out of 35 chapters, and Reinfeldt indicated a rule of thumb that one or two chapters could be opened during each presidency.
Eight cannot be opened because of the long-running dispute between Turkey and EU member Cyprus, while Turkey will have to meet strict opening standards to start talks on most others.
