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Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot while his wife Emine Erdogan and his daughter Sumeyye (left) look on during the referendum in Istanbul on Sunday. The referendum is widely viewed as a preview of Erdogan’s chances of winning a third term in office in July. Image Credit: EPA

Ankara: The European Union has urged Turkey to implement reforms and to draft a new constitution that would usher in more freedoms after Turks approved sweeping changes to the constitution.

About 58 per cent voted in favour of government-proposed amendments to the constitution crafted after a 1980 military coup in a referendum on Sunday.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said on Monday the changes address "long-standing priorities" for Turkey's membership.

He says Turkey needs to enact laws to implement the reforms as well as a new constitution that would bring its democracy more in line with European standards.