Turkey pulled off EU summit agenda

Fears of a backlash about enlargement have led EU ministers to pull any reference to Turkey accession negotiations off this week’s EU summit agenda.

There were reportedly fears that France or Cyprus could use the opportunity to add new conditions to Turkey’s accession date.

The European Commission is officially set to assess Turkey’s progress in implementing reforms on the autumn.

Meanwhile the EU approved an agreement on Monday to adapt its customs union with Turkey to the 10 new EU member states (including Cyprus) without discussion and sent it to Turkey for signature.

Turkey has said that it will sign the protocol “as soon as it receives” it.

Turkey has dragged it feet over signing the protocol, fearing that it means de facto recognition of the Republic of Cyprus and hoping to tie the deal to a lifting of trade restrictions on Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus.

However, signing the protocol is one of the preconditions that must be met before Turkey can start accession negotiations on October 3.