[Umit]

The European Commission confirmed it had recommended on Wednesday a partial suspension of Turkey's negotiations to join the European Union over its failure to open its ports to traffic from Cyprus.

Turkey's 40-year dream of anchoring its future in the EU will suffer a devastating blow today, with Brussels set to call for eight out of its 35 negotiating "chapters" to be suspended.

The announcement was delayed as Olli Rehn, the EU enlargement commissioner, attended a meeting of the European Commission. It is understood that Mr Rehn faced sharp comments from both sides of the argument - those who felt he had gone too far with this move, and those who believed he had not gone far enough.
-----------------

I have a personal note... We, Turkish people, don't give a duck about EU anymore because the EU never never never talked constructive so far. This country has too many problems, too many problems in democracy, too many problems in education, too many problems on living..etc. Even, our internet infrastructure is too crap and monopoly. EU could talk about somethings that useful for Turkish people. We had taken EU as a reliable compass but we all saw that it is nothing but a pile of crap.

We recommend fully suspension

[marky mark]

All the Turkish people I've spoken to don't want the EU.

From watching the Euronews channel most countries (especially France & Germany) don't want Turkey in the EU anyway, so why bother.


It seems to me the only people interested in Turkey joining the EU are Tony Blair and America?

And alot of overseas estate agents who always mention that when Turkey joins the EU it will push up the value of your property


I think there would be strict restictions on travel as well, people are scared of mass imigration after what happened with Poland.


But the talks haven't been suspended yet, there's going to be a decision on December 11th.

[**claire**]

From todays BBC News

Turkey has agreed to open one port and one airport to traffic from Cyprus, in an effort to break the deadlock over its EU application, Finland says.


Finland, the current EU president, said the offer was made on Wednesday. Turkish media said the offer depended on a return compromise over northern Cyprus - but this was not confirmed

[kaleann]

Last night they were saying that one port & one airport were not enough. Personally speaking, İ didn't chose to move out of Europe all those years ago, to be put back in there by a load of politicians!
Back in the 60's we had a dream of the world coming together as ONE but as Europe grows in size, the problems seem to be growing. Where will it end? Only time will tell but İ hope some commonsence will overtake greed & different nations will in time come to live together more peacefully.

[joy]

The only way forward when you reach a deadlock.... is to wipe the slate clean and start negociating step by step.
Turkey and Cyprus both have to have recipricol agreements, free exchange of trade and all airports and ports.
After all been part of europe is supposed to create one united continent, WITH FREEDOM FOR ALL WITHIN.
Fear seems to be the problem on all sides, fear that one will have more power over the other, fear that one may gain more than the other and the real fear that Turkey will be overwhelmed by EU directives.
I have very mixed feelings re the EU anyway, the idea is a sound enough one, but the reality is that i feel we have lost a lot of our own idenity in britain.
I suppose like anything in life, they will be benefits to Tukey in gaining membership but there will be losses.