EU expected to give Turkey go-ahead for entry talks

The European Union opened a meeting today at which it was likely to recommend Turkey begin EU membership talks with one key proviso: that negotiations be halted if Ankara backtracks on sweeping democratic and human rights reforms.

If the European Commission’s expected recommendation is formally approved by the 25 EU leaders at a December summit, entry talks could begin in early 2005, capping years of lobbying by Turkish officials who say their country could form a bridge between Muslim countries and Europe.