Italy's Prodi says EU should leave door open for Turkey

'The EU should leave a door open for Turkey while at the same time clarify that the criteria for accession are the same as for all other candidate countries,' Prodi said after talks with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at the start of a two-day visit to Greece.

Greece has urged the European Union to set a firm date for a review of Turkey's progress in its troubled accession talks with the bloc, saying a move would reveal whether Ankara was serious about reform or not.

Athens is among several European countries seeking tougher action on Turkey other than the partial freeze in talks proposed by the European Commission over Ankara's failure to open ports to ships from Cyprus.

'Turkey must realise that its progress in the accession negotiations depends on its progress in fulfilling the criteria and conditions its has agreed with the EU,' said Karamanlis.

Underlining Greece's support for Turkey's European prospects in general, Karamanlis said that Athens was 'in continuous consultation with its partners in the EU on how to establish the right framework for Turkey, given Ankara's non-fulfilment of its obligations.'

Turkey has expressed concern that naming a date for a review would be equivalent to a new deadline to move on the Cyprus issue or face stiffer panalties.

Last week, the EU's executive proposed freezing talks on eight out of 35 negotiating chapters until Turkey opens its ports to shipping from EU member Cyprus.

EU foreign ministers are scheduled to decide on December 11 on the Commission's recommendation.

Prodi said that the number of 'accession negotiation chapters that opened or closed were a technical issue to be decided by the European Commission.'

'I am not fighting for one or more chapters. Our priority is that there should be something balanced.'

The European Union opened membership talks with Turkey in October last year. Deutsche Presse-Agentur

/Monsters and Critics/