German Gov. expects membership talks with Turkey

The subject of entry into the EU will dominate German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s trip to Turkey which begins on Sunday.

And Turkey continues to affect German domestic politics.

The German government is expecting Brussels to begin negotiations with Turkey on joining the EU, according to media reports.

Opposition leader Angela Merkel is firmly opposed to Turkish entry into the EU and says that it will be a crucial issue in the forthcoming European elections.

The European Commission will decide by the end of the year whether to begin talks with Ankara.