Turkey says EU 'homework done'

Turkey declared that it had fulfilled all the political criteria for membership talks with the European Union yesterday, three days before a recommendation from the EU's executive that will give Ankara a green light.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sniped at European politicians who have fanned unease - especially in France and Germany - about the prospect of membership for a country so culturally different, accusing them of "populism".

"Anyone who calls into question whether Turkey can be a full member is not respecting the procedures," he said in an interview with Germany's N-TV. "We have done our homework. Now it's for those who set this homework to do what is necessary."

The German daily Bild, trailing its Monday edition, said the key phrase in the October 6 opinion would be: "The Commission considers that Turkey (has) sufficiently fulfilled political criteria and recommend(s) the accession negotiations be opened".

European Commission officials declined to comment on Bild's report, which will surprise no one. But they pointed out the recommendation, a guide for EU leaders meeting to make a decision on December 17, would come with conditions.

Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper that any negotiations would be a "process with an open end", and reiterated his belief that Turkish membership was unlikely before 2015 at the earliest.

"Any country can at any moment stop the process. This is definitely not automatic," he said, adding that the Commission's report would be "extremely critical" of Turkey's reform efforts.

The report, according to a copy obtained by Reuters, criticises persistent torture and harassment of human rights workers, and says that implementation of legislation introduced by Mr Erdogan to align Turkey with EU standards had been patchy.

"There are still problems in all areas," Mr Verheugen told Germany's SWR radio yesterday, citing freedom of political expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of belief and womens' and union rights.

Mr Erdogan crossed swords with the Commission last month when the Turkish parliament delayed approval of a new penal code over controversial plans to outlaw adultery.

Parliament backtracked, but the incident served to heighten fears that the overwhelmingly Muslim state of some 70 million people could bring fundamental changes to the European Union.

French President Jacques Chirac promised last week to hold a referendum on Turkey's entry to the EU if the bloc agrees to its accession, a move intended to prevent voters' concerns on the issue clouding a referendum next year on the EU constitution.

An opinion poll published in the Netherlands yesterday showed that some 57 per cent of Dutch people were opposed to Turkey joining the EU and only 27 per cent were in favour.

Germany's conservative opposition is opposed to membership talks with Ankara and has called instead for it to be offered a "privileged partnership", a proposal Mr Erdogan rejected.

"It is really wrong to follow a policy that calls into question Turkey's membership," he said. "Attempts at populism will never lead to success. It's about doing what is right."

Ilter Turkmen, a former Turkish foreign minister, said there were clear signs of opposition from the European public.

"There is much hope now Turkey will receive a date to start negotiations," he told Reuters. "But we need to acknowledge that the real struggle will be after the December summit. Turkey needs to start focusing on that and accept that talks will last a very long time."