European Union ministers cleared the way on Tuesday for membership talks with Turkey to be revived, agreeing to open a new negotiating chapter after a three-year lull.

“Today’s decision represents an important step,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement. “Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey.” The country has been seeking to become an EU member country for 26 years, but its negotiations had recently ground to a halt, mostly due to Franco-German opposition and tensions with Cyprus.

The two sides will now meet on November 5 to launch discussions on regional policy – the 14th negotiating chapter that Turkey will open out of the 35 foreseen as part of an EU accession.

“A European Turkey is important for Europe and for Turkey,” Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told journalists ahead of the talks with his 27 EU counterparts. “This is a sign that the EU and Turkey want to deepen their relations further.” “It is also a signal to Turkish citizens that the EU really wants to open itself up,” added Germany’s state minister for European affairs, Michael Link. “This way, we will get the momentum needed to also discuss with Turkey the difficult remaining points.” The EU had first indicated its readiness to open the new chapter in June, but delayed the move amid concerns over a violent Turkish crackdown on anti-government protests.

“Our decision in the summer was not the closing of a door, but a signal. And this signal was heard and understood,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had said on Monday.

Yet concerns remain about Ankara’s handling of the anti-government protests and its respect of fundamental rights.

Some EU officials have called for negotiations to be launched as quickly as possible on the more controversial negotiating Chapters 23 and 24, which cover issues of the justice, fundamental rights, freedom and security.

“The most important thing is that Turkey reforms itself,” Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said. “We have seen fundamental changes in the last 10 years in Turkey. I am rather optimistic that it is possible, but I also think it will still take a long time.” Also on Tuesday, the ministers were due to prepare this week’s EU summit in Brussels, with the issue of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea expected to dominate the agenda.

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