Turkey is to establish a European Union ministry after June 12 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
"The ministry of the EU will coordinate the affairs for Turkey's EU bid," Erdogan said in his televised remarks at his party's headquarters in Ankara.
Currently, the EU affairs are coordinated by state minister Egemen Bagis.
Turkey opened accession talks with the EU in 2005. However, out of the 35 policy chapters that candidate countries must negotiate, Turkey has opened talks on only 13.
Eight chapters remain frozen as a sanction to Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels under a trade pact with the EU, with France blocking several others in line with its vocal opposition to Turkey's accession.
Erdogan said he planned to establish six new ministries, while reducing the total number of departments to 25 from 27. The new offices include departments of family and social policies, development, youth, customs and commerce.
The government's plans for a new department of family and social policies has received heavy criticism in the media as the current women's ministry will be swallowed up in the move.
Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) is seeking a third straight term in office in the election on June 12. Pollsters have said the AKP is heading for a comfortable albeit with a reduced majority.
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