The European Commission’s president says the EU is committed to negotiations toward Turkey’s membership and he urged the country to speed up reforms.

Jose Manuel Barroso says he encouraged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “move ahead on the reform path for the good of the country and to bring the country closer to EU membership.”

Barroso was ending a three-day visit to Turkey on Saturday.

During an address to Turkey’s parliament, Barroso said the Muslim country’s integration into Europe would offer “a powerful alternative” to radical Islam.

The EU opened entry talks with Turkey in 2005, but there has been little progress because of disagreements over Cyprus and opposition from some EU countries.