TURKEY: Turkey's possible entry into the European Union troubles many European citizens, but they should not be guided by fear of Islam, Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende told MEPs yesterday.
"The decision concerning Turkey does, nonetheless, greatly concern and trouble many people," he said in a speech outlining the Dutch EU presidency's programme for its six months in office.
EU leaders will decide in December whether Turkey meets the political and economic criteria for starting accession talks with the 25-nation bloc.
Mr Balkenende said Ankara's readiness for negotiations should be judged honestly but strictly on the existing criteria of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, without inventing new conditions. "That means strict application of the criteria laid down, but without inventing any new criteria."
Britain, Germany, Italy and Greece have pledged support for Turkey's EU bid. But there is strong public opposition to Turkish membership in France, Austria and, to a lesser extent, in the Netherlands.
France's political class is divided over admitting its NATO ally to the EU, with critics citing Turkey's poverty, geographical location and human rights record.
Mr Balkenende said it was too early to say whether Romania would be able to complete accession talks with the EU before the end of the year.
Romania missed the EU's eastward expansion in May and hopes to join in 2007. Bulgaria has already completed negotiations and Romania aims to complete entry talks by October. "They are really willing to finalise the (talks) . . . It is not an easy task, but at this moment it is too early to predict whether it will be possible," Mr Balkenende added.
Earlier this month Bucharest still had five out of 30 negotiation chapters to close, including the key areas of competition, environment and justice and home affairs where its laws and practices remain far below EU standards.