EU leaders inch closer to membership talks with Turkey

FORTY years of knocking on the door looked like paying off for Turkey last night, as EU leaders inched closer to agreeing that talks should begin to admit the country to the European Union.

The Turks will face at least ten years of negotiations and a series of specially devised hurdles before they are eligible to become a member. However, the deeply divided EU leaders gave Turkey no guarantees that the talks, due to begin on October 3 next year, will lead to membership.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was optimistic last night that he would get the go ahead as tense talks by the leaders of the 25 EU members went on later than expected.