Onderhandelingen over lidmaatschap Turkije kunnen van start, Ankara moet zich houden aan verplichtingen douane-unie inzake Cyprus (en)

Member states on Wednesday (21 September) officially endorsed a hotly contested EU counter statement against Turkey's non-recognition of Cyprus - helping to pave the way for entry talks with Ankara to start on 3 October.

The EU "counter-declaration", delayed by Cypriot pressure until the last minute, represents the EU's answer to Turkey's unilateral declaration on 29 July.

The Turkish declaration stated that its signature to extend a customs agreement with the EU to all new member states - including Cyprus - did not mean recognition of the Mediterranean island state.

The EU has now responded to this declaration by stating that "recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process" - meaning that Ankara should recognise Nicosia before it can itself enter the bloc.

The declaration also stipulates that the EU expects "full, non-discriminatory implementation" by Ankara of the customs agreement it signed with Brussels.

In practical terms, this means that Ankara is obliged to stop blocking Cypriot ships and planes from its territory.

In an implicit threat that non-co-operation may lead to the suspension of accession talks, the statement recalls that "failure to implement its [Turkey's] obligations in full will affect overall progress in the negotiations."

The EU will review Ankara's progress on both issues in 2006, the statement says.

The Cypriot government caused confusion on Tuesday by successfully removing the counter-declaration on Ankara's non-recognition of Cyprus from the agenda of EU ministers, after the UK presidency had already announced agreement on the text on Monday.

The Cypriots later said the delay purely had to do with procedural objections, but reports say that Nicosia pushed for last-minute changes to the text.

Cyprus reportedly wanted to avert linking its recognition by Turkey to the solution of the Cyprus problem in a UN context - a link which the eventual EU declaration does not make.

The last hurdle before entry talks can start on 3 October is an agreement on the negotiating framework, which stipulates which different policy area chapters Ankara has to close, and how progress should be monitored.

Austria threatens veto

Austria is still threatening to block the process unless the negotiating framework explicitly mentions a loose "priviliged partnership" between Brussels and Ankara as one possible outcome of the talks, according to press reports.

But one diplomatic source said that Vienna is really just seeking concessions on Croatia's EU membership bid, which Vienna is very keen on.

The EU recently blocked the start of entry talks with Zagreb following what it considers to be unsatisfactory co-operation by the Croatians with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.