Turkey, September 18: Barnier, a candidate of the UMP in recent European Parliament (EP) elections, represented France in the European Commission for a long time.
Egemen Bagis will meet Pierre Lelouche, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Claude Gueant, the secretary general of the French Presidency; and Jean-David Levitte, the diplomatic adviser to the French President later on Friday.
Turkey’s relations with France and Turkey’s full membership negotiations with the EU are expected to be discussed during the talks.
France opposes Turkey’s full membership to the EU and insists on proposing “privileged partnership” to Ankara.
France also vetoes opening of five chapter headings with Turkey in EU talks on charges that they are directly related to EU membership.
Bagis is scheduled to meet with representatives of Turkish associations on Saturday within the scope of his talks in Paris.
Bagis will listen to a concert of Turkish pop singer Sezen Aksu and some other Turkish musicians within the scope of the ongoing “Season of Turkey” activities in France on Saturday.
The Turkish minister will also meet Henri de Castries, the president of Axa Group–the main sponsor of the activities in France.
—Agencies