Turkey's EU chief negotiator and minister for EU affairs Egemen Bagis said on Monday that approval of changes to the constitution in an upcoming referendum could mark a turning point in the country's efforts to join the EU.

[Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator]:
"I think a 'yes' vote is going to be the turning point in Turkey's relations with EU. We have seen other examples in some other EU member countries. Spain, a country where colonels took parliamentarians hostage 40 years ago is now a very strong member of the EU. Portugal is a country that applied to the EU with a military constitution and minimal democracy, and they only could progress on their EU negotiations after changing the constitution."

The 26-article reform package will be voted on this coming Sunday. It includes controversial changes in the ways senior judges are selected and would curb military power.    
        
Turkey's government argues the reform package will bring the constitution, drafted after a 1980 military coup, more in line with those of EU member states. 

[Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator]:
"This is a stage and we are hoping that after the vote of 2011 when we have a new election we might even consider further alterations to our constitution. We might even come up with a brand new constitution that would embrace all citizens of Turkey."

Opposition parties in parliament denounce the reforms and argue that they will enable the government to wield increased influence over the judiciary. 
                   
Turkey's long-running negotiations to join the EU have been a slow process, partly because of disputes over Cyprus. But leaders of Germany and France have clearly stated they do not want Muslim Turkey to join.