BRUSSELS: The European Commission has told Turkey that it cannot start negotiations to join the European Union unless it reforms its fascist-inspired penal code. Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government withdrew a sweeping reform package last week rather than abandon a proposal to criminalise adultery.
A spokesman for the Enlargement Commissioner, Mr Günther Verheugen, said yesterday that the Commission would not recommend to EU leaders that they start accession talks with Turkey unless the reforms are approved.
"The Commission will make clear that, as long as such a central element as the reform of the penal code is not adopted, accession negotiations cannot start," he said.
Diplomats believe it is unlikely that Ankara will approve the reform package before the Commission publishes its report on October 6th, but predict that it could be approved by the time EU leaders make the final decision on opening talks on December 17th.
The dispute over the proposed ban on adultery has cast a shadow over Turkey's relationship with the EU and reinforced fears among many European conservatives that Turkey is not suitable to start a process that could lead to full EU membership by 2015.
Austria's far-right Freedom Party yesterday threatened to leave the coalition government if the chancellor, Mr Wolfgang Schüssel, agreed to start accession talks with Turkey. Germany's main opposition party opposes the start of talks and at least six of the 30 European Commissioners oppose opening negotiations with Turkey.
Mr Verheugen asked Ankara at the weekend to clarify the status of the reform package but his spokesman said that no explanation had yet been received.
Turkey's justice minister, Mr Cemil Cicek, yesterday declined to outline his government's next move on the penal code.
"Time will show in what direction the work will go. We attach importance to the EU and everybody knows this from our reforms, but the EU is not the only issue on Turkey's agenda. We place importance on all issues on Turkey's agenda and we handle these in a balanced way," he said.
Mr Erdogan is expected to meet Mr Verheugen when he visits Brussels on Thursday and EU officials are hoping that a resolution to the dispute can be found in time for the Commission to issue a positive report. Mr Erdogan last week told the EU to stop interfering in Turkey's internal affairs but the Commission insists that it has a legitimate interest in Ankara's progress in improving human rights.
"This is not interference in Turkey's internal affairs. These are the rules of the game if a country wants to join the EU," a spokesman said.