Verheugen: Turkey giving "mixed picture"

"It is open what recommendation we will make next year," Verheugen told the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine.

"But I do not accept that the only options are an unconditional yes or no. We will not shrink from an uncomfortable recommendation if necessary."

The European Union Commission — the top EU executive body — is scheduled to publish an annual report on November 5 on Turkey’s preparations.

Another report due out late next year will then form the basis of the scheduled December 2004 meeting of EU leaders on whether to start accession talks.

If the decision is positive, they could begin in 2005.

Turkey, a mainly Muslim country which has been an EU candidate since 1999, is the only one among 13 would-be member states yet to start membership talks with the bloc.

Verheugen noted that Turkey was undertaking significant political reforms, but pointed to other issues where Ankara remained below EU standards, notably human rights — particularly torture — religious freedom and the role of the military in Turkish political life.

He said the opportunity for "really ground-breaking reform" was bigger than ever. "We have a government (in Turkey) that is grasping for reform as a goal in itself, independent of a rapprochement with Europe."

Verheugen warned Ankara not to use talks over the future of divided Cyprus as a lever with which to get into the European Union.

At the same time, he said the continued presence of Turkish soldiers in the Turkish Cypriot-ruled part of the Mediterranean island could influence public opinion against Turkey’s membership.

Cyprus, divided since 1974, is due to become an EU member in May next year, but failure to reach a UN-sponsored political settlement before then will see only the Greek Cypriots benefit from EU accession, while the Turkish Cypriot north remains out in the cold.