Turkey to begin talks on gaining EU membership
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THE controversial decision to give Turkey the green light to start talks on joining the EU will be taken later this week, despite widespread reservations in many member states.
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BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union's head office opened a meeting Wednesday where it was likely to recommend that 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...
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Turkey moved closer to opening membership talks with the European Union after the country's prime minister assured the bloc Thursday that Ankara would pass legal reforms and end efforts to criminalize adultery.
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The European Union spelled out tough conditions on Friday for Turkey to start membership talks next October ahead of final bargaining with the Turkish prime minister at a landmark summit.
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The European Commission has given a qualified go-ahead to starting EU membership talks with Turkey, warning that negotiations could be frozen if the country backtracks on reforms.
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Description: European heads of state gather in Brussels for a summit to begin talks over Turkish membership in the European Union.
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The European Council decided on Thursday night in Brussels to start Turkey&#39;s accession talks as of Oct. 3, 2005. Speaking to a press conference after Thursday&#39;s prolonged meeting
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Turkey was on course on Wednesday to get a date to start open-ended negotiations on European Union membership as final elements of a compromise package came together on the eve of a landmark EU summit.
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BRUSSELS, Dec 15  - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels late Wednesday ahead of an EU summit widely expected to give Ankara a green light to start membership negotiations with the bloc.
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With the Turkish prime minister lobbying to the last minute, European Union leaders Thursday night reached a historic decision to open membership talks with Turkey late next year.
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The European Commission was set to recommend on Wednesday that Turkey start accession talks with the European Union, finally unveiling its watershed decision after 40 years of on-again, off-again talks.
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European Union leaders agreed Thursday to open negotiations with Turkey next year on eventual EU membership, but the Turkish premier said more talks were needed -- presumably over the divided island of Cyprus -- before he could accept the offer.
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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to hold talks with the EU commissioner in charge of the blocâs enlargement process Guenter Verheugen, and members of the European Parliament, including European Parliament chief Josep Borrell, as well as
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Chicago Tribune - European Union leaders decided Thursday to open negotiations with Turkey next year on EU membership, but the road to acceptance will be bumpy.
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European Union leaders have agreed to start talks on Turkey&#39;s membership in the bloc in October of 2005, but they will ask Turkey to recognize the ethnic Greek government of Cyprus before negotiations begin.
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The European Union and Turkey reached  a historic agreement on Friday on starting talks on admitting  the large Muslim nation to the bloc after last minute haggling  over Ankara's relationship with EU member Cyprus.
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The moment of truth is approaching for Turkey&#39;s bid to join the European Union, EU enlargement chief Guenter Verheugen said Monday, as European leaders prepare to decide whether to open membership talks with the mainly Muslim country.