"The waiting game continues
By Myria Andoniadou
Turkey�s start date for negotiations to join the EU is still creating dilemmas
TWO issues that emerged in Brussels this week illustrate the kind of realities and dilemmas EU member states will be faced with after giving Turkey a date for starting accession negotiations.
On the one hand, it emerged that the Commission decided to play down the opening of negotiations. It does not want those in France, who are against the European Constitution, to take advantage of anti-Turkish feelings during the referendum campaign. The referendum is expected sometime in June.
At the same time, the question of where Europe ends came up yet again when MEPs were asking Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn how the EU can accept a predominantly Muslim country and deny Christian Ukraine a candidate status. It followed a Parliament resolution which left open the possibility of offering Ukraine membership.
Therefore the only Turkey-related issue expected to be raised soon concerns the Protocol adapting the Ankara Agreement (customs union) to take account of all member states, including Cyprus."
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