BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The EU Commission has just released its annual progress report on Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. It criticizes Turkey for what it calls an uncompromising stance against dissent and a failure to protect fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and assembly.

The report stresses that the government must seek to include minorities and respect and defend their rights. Despite the criticism, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule urged Turkey to continue its bid to join the bloc.

"The democratic package announced only a few weeks ago with a commitment to implement it and continue with those reforms, it only strengthens me in calling on the member states and the Council to allow the Commission to open chapter 23 and chapter 24 with Turkey. Because if we want Turkey to address the issue of the fundamental freedoms and rights, let’s use the most effective instrument we have for that propose," said Stefan Fule, EU Enlargement Commissioner.

(Source: cntv.cn)