Turkey vaunts EU achievements

Turkish business leaders have urged the EU to recognise far reaching economic reforms in the country.

Speaking in Brussels ahead of the European commission’s crucial progress report, the Turkish delegation called on the EU to consider the facts.

“Contrary to what is said, Turkey is engaged in a full reform programme,” president of the Turkish union of chambers and commodity Rifat Hisarcikoglu told reporters on Tuesday.

“We are a serious EU candidate with a dynamic economy. We are developing a strong model that can influence the region.”

The European commission’s Wednesday report is set to be largely critical of the slow pace of reform in Turkey.

On Monday night the commission avoided a major collision with the country over Cyprus by signalling that the report would not recommend a derailment of membership talks.

The EU executive is instead expected to offer Ankara more time for diplomatic efforts to break the impasse over customs union with Cyprus.

EU member states such as France and Cyprus had urged the commission to take a tough line with Ankara and partially suspend accession talks.

But EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn and commission president José Manuel Barroso, have argued that it would be unhelpful to spark a crisis ahead of an EU summit in December - which is likely to settle the issue.

According to draft conclusions seen by reporters if Turkey does not give ground and open its ports to Cyprus "the commission will make relevant recommendations ahead of the December European council".

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