"Turkey closer to EU entry talks
Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:30 AM GMT
Printer Friendly | Email Article | RSS
By Aine Gallagher
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - Turkey is on course to get a date to start open-ended negotiations on European Union membership as final elements of a compromise package came together on the eve of a landmark EU summit.
Despite last-minute rhetoric from Ankara and European countries most sceptical about its fitness to join the 25-nation bloc, diplomats said leaders would agree on Friday to open talks in October or November 2005 with the clear aim of membership.
'It is now time for the European Council to honour its commitment to Turkey and announce the opening of accession negotiations. A clear date should be indicated,' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said."
More:World News Article | Reuters.co.uk
