The Socialist Group in the European Parliament (EP) said that Turkey and the European Union (EU) should add a momentum to their negotiations.

Turkey and the EU should add a momentum to Turkey's full membership negotiations with the union, spokesmen of the group, said in a statement.

Spokesmen Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma released a statement before a discussion on Turkey to take place at the EP plenary session on Wednesday.

In the statement, the group asked Turkey to take concrete steps regarding reforms, and asked the EU to perceive the strategic importance of Turkey.

The group particularly underlined Turkey's importance as a transit country in energy lines, and said the EU and Turkey should boost their cooperation in energy.

The EP will discuss the draft report on Wednesday and vote it on Thursday. It expresses concern over slow down in Turkey's reforms on the road to the EU, and asks the Turkish government to reaffirm its political will to maintain the reform process.

Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.

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