Turkish fallout feared

The European Commission is seeking to prevent Turkey’s EU membership bid from dominating next month’s summit, as hopes fade of avoiding a showdown over the access of Cypriot vessels to Turkish ports.

According to diplomats, the Commission fears that the Turkish issue could have a negative impact on enlargement policy as a whole.

EU heads of state and government are expected to discuss "all aspects of future enlargements" when they meet in Brussels on 14-15 December, according to a draft agenda of the summit.

There is concern that, with the enlargement debate so heavily focused on Turkey, the countries of the Western Balkans could become ‘collateral damage’.

One diplomat said that revisiting the debate on Turkey at the highest level could also damage the country’s membership prospects further.

"In 2004 and 2005 Turkey was at the forefront of discussions. Another Turkey discussion could cause more enlargement fatigue," he said.

EU governments have warned that Turkey’s failure to meet an end-of-year deadline to open its ports will have a negative impact on membership talks.

The Commission is expected to deliver its verdict on whether Turkey has complied on 6 December so that foreign ministers meeting on 11 December can try to agree on the EU’s response.

If Turkey has failed to act they may agree to suspend talks in areas that relate to the EU’s internal market.

There is little support for proposals to block talks completely.

The European Commission is seeking to prevent Turkey’s EU membership bid from dominating next month’s summit, as hopes fade of avoiding a showdown over the access of Cypriot vessels to Turkish ports.