Turkey backs reforms to boost EU membership

TURKEY’S parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday to approve penal code reforms aimed at boosting Turkey’s chances of starting membership talks with the EU.

The special session came just days after Turkish leaders shelved an effort by government lawmakers to criminalise adultery, a demand that had upset EU officials and Turkish women’s groups and human rights activists.

The government took the unusual step of calling a Sunday session to pass the package in advance of an October 6 EU report that will assess if Turkey is ready to start membership negotiations.