EU farm chief slams Turkey's EU suitability

European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler (picture) has questioned Turkey's suitability for EU membership in the latest note of dissent in the European Union's executive, the Financial Times reported yesterday.

Mr Fischler, an Austrian whose Brussels term ends next month, said in a nine-page letter to fellow commissioners that Ankara's commitment to democracy and secularism might not last, and that the cost of admitting Turkey would bust the farm budget.

"There remain doubts as to Turkey's long-term secular and democratic credentials," the FT quoted the letter as saying. "There could be... a fundamentalist backlash."

An aide to Mr Fischler confirmed the contents of the letter, leaked in the same week that outgoing Dutch Commissioner Frits Bolkestein warned that Turkish accession could lead to an Islamisation of Europe.

Like Bolkestein, Mr Fischler highlighted Turkey's size and Muslim identity. "Turkey is a sui generis society, far more oriental than European," he was quoted as writing.

Commission officials and diplomats said the two men were in a minority and there was no doubt the EU executive would recommend next month that Turkey had made sufficient progress on the bloc's criteria for democracy, human rights and the rule of law to justify opening entry negotiations next year.

The 25 EU leaders are due to make the decision in December by unanimity, based on the Commission's report.

One commissioner told Reuters that up to seven of the 30 Commission members were sceptical about Turkey's bid - not enough to swing the recommendation due to be adopted on October 6 by simple majority, although the Commission rarely votes.

An EU diplomat from a country that strongly supports Turkish accession described the comments by Mr Fischler and Mr Bolkestein as "the last hurrah of the losing camp".

Mr Fischler was quoted as saying Turkish EU membership could cost €11.3 billion a year in farm subsidies alone - apparently assuming that agricultural policies remain unchanged for another 10 to 15 years.

Momentum for a "yes" to opening talks with Turkey is growing both within the Commission, following a final fact-finding visit by Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, and among EU governments, despite polls showing widespread public misgivings.

Mr Verheugen sent positive signals on Turkey's progress while cautioning against a proposed law to criminalise adultery and criticising the situation in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country holds the EU presidency and will chair the decisive summit, said in an interview on Thursday that Turkey had made "fantastic" progress towards meeting EU standards.

"It's amazing what they have done over the past two years," he said. "Since we always say that we are not discriminating, if you then keep Turkey out, let's say, everybody will very quickly say it's because they are Islamic, because they fulfil the criteria."