EU leaders warned they could freeze membership talks with Turkey yesterday as several member states pushed to set a limit on the future borders of the union.
In a debate on enlargement held at the EU summit last night, France and the Netherlands pushed to have the pace of future enlargement linked to the "absorption capacity" of the EU. Luxembourg also warned that the EU would have to reconsider any enlargement until an agreement was found on the EU's institutional future.
"Croatia aside, I think that it will probably not be possible to continue the enlargement process without limits and precautions if we do not manage to restore order to European institutions," said Luxembourg's prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, one of the strongest proponents of greater EU integration.
Spurred by increased public concern over enlargement in states such as France, Germany and the Netherlands, EU leaders are questioning the future of enlargement.
In draft conclusions circulated last night, they say that in the future it will be important that the EU is able to function "politically, financially and institutionally as it enlarges". They also agreed to hold a major debate on the issue at the next summit.
EU leaders also sent a strong warning to Turkey to intensify its reform process and its obligations to recognise the Cypriot government and remove its blockade on its ships.
Mr Juncker warned yesterday that the EU should freeze membership talks with Turkey if Ankara does not open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus this year.
Turkey has already signed up to this obligation under the Ankara protocol but is seeking to delay this until the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus is ended. Asked in an interview if the EU had shown weakness by concluding an accession deal this week, Mr Juncker said: "No. European ministers firmly reiterated to the Turks that this condition should be applied in 2006. If Turkey were not to implement this condition this year, my view is that the negotiations will have to be postponed."
Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country will take over the presidency of the EU in July, said he feared a possible crisis later this year.
"We are waiting for Turkey's ratification of the Ankara protocol. We have to make progress in these negotiations. If we don't do anything, there is a big risk of serious problems in the autumn," he said.
Several member states, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands, have doubts about the accession of Turkey, a poor, predominantly Muslim and populous nation. However, the Republic and the UK support Turkey's 40-year ambition to join the EU.
EU leaders also agreed a deal to give the European Parliament more power to influence legislation in areas such as environmental policy. The agreement gives the parliament the ability for the first time to veto measures drafted by the European Commission.
EU leaders also agreed a series of measures to create an EU-wide energy market and begin a new dialogue with Russia on energy.