German Deputy Minister says Turkey's EU bid 'slackening'

"Turkey's reform zeal has certainly been slackening," Gloser said in an interview in Berlin today. "We can't be pleased with the state of play." He said Turkey must implement an agreement opening its airports and harbors to planes and ships from the Greek Cypriot half of the island.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, who briefed German lawmakers in Berlin today on prospects for further enlargement of the 25-nation EU, said Oct. 3 that Turkey risked a breakdown in its membership talks unless it resolved its stand-off over trade with Cyprus.

The EU began the accession process with Turkey in October last year after the government pledged to lift the trade curbs on the Greek Cypriots. Turkey invaded and occupied northern Cyprus in 1974 after a brief coup by Greek Cypriots aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

Gloser, speaking on the sidelines of today's parliamentary hearing with Rehn, said Turkey's focus on accession to the EU is weakening as the government is "concerned" that pro-EU steps may cloud its prospects in next year's parliamentary elections.

Turkey is currently discussing with the EU a proposal by Finland, which holds the bloc's presidency, that would end Turkey's embargo on Cypriot ships and planes and at the same time ease the bloc's trade curbs on Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, Turkish Economy Minister Ali Babacan said in an interview in London.

The Finish proposal "certainly points in the right direction," Gloser said, calling it a "basis" for a possible agreement on the matter by the end of the year. Germany will assume the EU's rotating six-month presidency on Jan. 1, 2007. Bloomberg