"Turkey negotiating framework
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson
Wednesday, 29 June 2005
Today, the European Commission presents its framework for negotiating with Turkey over EU membership. Last December, EU leaders agreed to start talks with Ankara on 3 October, if Turkey fulfilled the preliminary conditions.
Following Dutch and French rejection of the proposed European constitution, a growing number of leading EU politicians have been arguing that enlargement should be put on hold for Turkey. 'We must hold up enlargement at least until institutions have been modernised. Europe cannot enlarge for ever,' said French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday. Angela Merkel, German Christian Democratic leader likely to take over from current Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der after September elections, is also against Ankara joining the 25-member bloc."
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