The European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs said on Thursday it is closely following the discussions on the judicial reform bill currently before the Turkish Grand National Assembly. "We would like to reaffirm that an independent and impartial judiciary, based on a clear separation of powers and in line with European standards, is key for a democratic system of checks and balances" said the committee Chairman Elmar Brok, adding that "it is a key factor for the negotiations between Turkey and the European Union". He noted that the 2010 judicial reform in Turkey, which led to the establishment of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, was an important step in the right direction. "We also expect the investigations and legal proceedings on the allegations of corruption to be pursued without interference" he said, "Close EU-Turkey relations are important for both Turkey and the EU and in this context we stress the need and value of close cooperation and dialogue also on the reform process in Turkey", he also added.