French Brake At Last Moment

Upon the French initiative, the report of the Commission will not include the phrase of "Beginning talks with Turkey without delay". By this initiative, France plans to have Turkey begin accession talks, after the EU Constitution referendum, which it will hold, The Commission’s French member Pascal Lamy attempted to dilute the recommendation of the Commission with a number of motions he launched.

Commission sources said that on December 17, France would assert that Turkey had not fulfilled the criteria fully and is planning to impose a series of conditions against Turkey.

Meanwhile Olli Rehn, the new Commissioner who will replace Verheugen on November 1, said that a permanent restriction might be demanded from Turkey on the free movement of labor. The Finnish representative told the E.P. that free circulation was a source of concern in the European public opinion. He added that the outcome of negotiations did not produce a membership ticket to any body.