Erdogan intensifies Turkish effort to join EU

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reshuffled his cabinet yesterday, retaining Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek to manage the overheating economy and creating a new ministry to press Turkey's campaign to join the EU.

Under Mr Erdogan, whose AK Party won an unprecedented third term in office in elections last month, Turkey has been transformed into one of the world's fastest-growing economies, but there are calls for his government to tighten fiscal and monetary policy.

Egemen Bagis, Turkey's chief negotiator for EU membership, was appointed head of the newly created European Union ministry.

Mr Erdogan has also said he wants to work with the opposition to write a new constitution. There is speculation that he wants to move Turkey towards a more presidential system of government, with the ultimate aim of becoming president himself.