17/12/2004 2:11:38 pm
Did We Cheer Too Soon? Late yesterday night, the EU leaders made their long awaited and discussed proposal to Turkey. Since it contains the central aspect of starting negotiations with Turkey about EU membership - starting on the 3rd of October 2005 - it has been regarded as a positive message. Many cheered when receiving these news, me definitely included. The EU proposal does, however, contain a large number of conditions that will be hard for Turkey to meet. Read about its contents here. Today, so far, the Turkish PM Erdogan has declined to accept the deal as it is. Thus, uncertainty is again very big. The EU leaders now have to modify their proposal and apparently discussions are intense. This is the most important decision the EU will make in years. They definitely seem to be heading in the right direction. But they have to wrap it up during this meeting.
Read about the current situation in Financial Times - >