By NNN-KUNA,
Brussels : The European Union avoided to take a position on the ruling by Turkeys constitutional court on Thursday to annul a law allowing women to wear headscarves in universities on grounds it violates secularism.
“Our position is clear. It is up to the Turkish population to decide and debate the matter respecting fundamental rights. It is a question for Turkey and its population,” a spokesperson for the European Commission, Krisztina Nagy, told reporters here on Friday.
The main issue at stake is that fundamental freedoms are respected and that decision is taken in line with European standards, she added.
When a journalist pointed out that girl students in European universities are allowed to wear the headscarf, Nagy replied “there are no common approved standards on wearing of the veil” in Europe.
The spokesperson said the European Commission will analyse all the developments in Turkey before presenting the regular progress report on Turkeys membership in autumn.
Turkey began EU membership negotiations in 2005.