‘Turkey should not be admitted into the EU’

In a lecture in Prague on the future of Europe, Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel warned that Turkey’s membership in the union could overburden the current members and that the differences between Turkey and the EU members are too big for full membership.

"Ten to 15 years is not long enough to overcome numerous differences," news agency CTK quoted Merkel as saying on Wednesday

The leaders of the 25 EU countries will decide in December whether to open membership talks with Turkey, which hopes to join within 10 years.

Merkel has repeatedly said that Turkey should have "privileged partnership" status rather than full EU membership.

Merkel was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Stanislav Gross during her one-day visit.