Turkey keeps European Union divided

Turkey keeps European Union divided

"What is at stake today is the credibility of the EU," said Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister. "We must find solidarity among ourselves on the basis of the Commission's proposal."

Talk of a last-minute concession from the Turkish government looks set to push the EU's decision on Turkey to the meeting of heads-of-state and heads-of-government at the end of this week.

Details of the Turkish concession are still not public, but it's clear that it would not amount to full adoption of the 'Ankara Protocol', which the EU is pushing for.

As they entered the meeting, foreign ministers braced themselves for lengthy talks.

"I personally don't expect that we will reach an agreement already today as the position of European member states are too far apart for that, though they are closer," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister.

"But this meeting today will be important to prepare for the heads of government meeting. I am very confident that there will be an agreement at the end of this week."

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, who presides over the meeting, said that the talks would be "intensive" and "constructive."

Finland finds itself in a position where it has to develop a compromise between countries that favor a tough approach on Turkey, such as Germany, France and Austria. and those that believe that a clash would eventually lead to more support for Islamist parties in Turkey, like the UK.

Turkey faces a fresh round of national elections in 2008.

"We should take speed out of the process," said Ursula Plassnik, Austria's Foreign Minister. "We need to be patient and we have to stick to our own principles. A number of negotiating chapters will have to remain on hold. This is reasonable and realistic. Nobody will slam the door on Turkey."

The Netherlands also is among those that want to send a clear signal to Turkey.

"I hope that we will be able to fix a very clear line closing a number of chapters and deciding that the Council has the right to open other chapters in a rendez-vous clause," said Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot.

"This would be a very strong political signal to Ankara and I am expecting a signal from Ankara that it is willing to agree with the terms of the Ankara Protocol. We, as The Netherlands, would like to freeze ten chapters.”