World Bulletin / News Desk

The European Union agreed Thursday to open a new negotiating chapter with Turkey on its long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc, an EU source said.

The decision was part of an EU agreement in March to speed up accession talks in return for Turkey helping to control the massive inflow of refugees, mostly fleeing Syria, which overwhelmed the bloc last year.

The EU source gave no further details, with a formal statement expected shortly after a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and top bloc officials in Brussels.

Muslim-majority Turkey formally launched its membership bid in 2005 and since then the EU has opened 15 chapters out of the 35 required to join the bloc.

So far, however, only one chapter has been completed, with disagreements over Turkey's human rights record a cause for concern in many EU states and blocking progress.

The new chapter, number 33, covers finance and budget affairs.

Under the March agreement, the EU also agreed to boost aid to Turkey to cope with millions of refugees on its territory and to speed up visa liberalisation.