"Turkey irons out EU stumbling blocks
It was in December 2004 that EU leaders unanimously decided negotiations over Turkey's membership of the European Union should begin on Monday.
It was a momentous day for Ankara, which first began to woo Europe more than four decades ago.
Before talks could begin, though, Turkey had to do two things. It had to vote on penal reforms and it had to extend its customs union to the 10 new countries which joined the EU last year, including Cyprus."
More:EuroNews-Turkey irons out EU stumbling blocks
