Turks stoical about EU report

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Only one in three Turks want to join the EU

Turkish papers have reacted coolly to the European Union report criticising the progress Turkey has made on reforms ahead of talks on possible EU membership.

One commentator appeals for calm before the all-important EU summit in December, and there is a general feeling that Turkey must be content to wait and see if its aspirations are to be realised.

Some politicians in Germany, France and Austria have raised serious doubts over Turkish EU membership, but papers in those countries are more sympathetic to Turkey's situation.

FEHMI KORU IN TURKEY'S YENI SAFAK

The development report highlights the criticism that the reforms - especially the democratisation of relations between civilians and the military - have been diluted. But there is no mention of suspending the negotiations. With reference to Turkey not having taken a new step on Cyprus, the last word is left to the EU leaders at their summit next month. Should we be happy or sad? The best thing is to be calm.

HADI ULUENGIN IN TURKEY'S HURRIYET

On the issues of Cyprus, freedom of expression and corruption, the Union might have shown Turkey a "yellow card". But it did not turn this yellow into red and suspend the negotiations. It left the real decision to the December summit of the EU presidents and premiers.

GUNERI CIVAOGLU IN TURKEY'S MILLIYET

The EU knows that the government cannot open the ports before the general elections in 2007. Because - and this is very much talked about in Brussels - if the [governing] Justice and Development Party loses the elections, the new government will not show the same excitement on the issue of full EU membership.

CENGIZ CANDAR IN TURKEY'S BUGUN

The "bad marks" of last year's development report are there again in this report. Turkey has been unable to show any meaningful improvement in its reform process since last year. This means Turkey does not have any room for manoeuvre on Cyprus in the coming months.

TAHA AKYOL IN TURKEY'S MILLIYET

For Turkey, the important thing - politically, strategically and economically - is the continuation of the "EU membership process". This means that the continuation of the process, even with its ups and downs, quarrels etc, is of benefit to both Turkey and the EU. Our opponents want us to get sick of it and leave the table. No, let us continue to fight on.

MURAT YETKIN IN TURKEY'S RADIKAL

The new report gives the impression of being not so much a "development" report as a "delaying" report. Maybe it will turn into a "pausing" report at the December summit. We will wait and see.

HORST BACIA IN GERMANY'S FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

What happens now with Turkey? As expected, the EU Commission has not provided an answer to this question. Its report on the progress of reforms since the beginning of entry negotiations in October 2005 remains typically ambivalent.

GERMANY'S DER TAGESSPIEGEL

The mistake is being repeated. European "know-it-alls" give their opinion on Turkey - this will have consequences, and not the best. Yes, it is right to weigh up the progress the Turks have made on the path to Europe; but it is just as important to acknowledge the fact that there has been progress.

FRANCE'S LIBERATION

The EU criticises Turkey without penalising it. The crisis between the European Union and Turkey centres less on a slowing down of political and economic reforms in Turkey than it does over Cyprus. Turkish premier Recep Erdogan is clearly relying on Europe's dislike of confrontation to avoid making any concessions over Cyprus.

FRANCE'S LE FIGARO

The negative report on Turkey is a harbinger of confrontation at the European summit on 15 December. The European executive, generally favourable to the Turkish candidacy, carefully avoided making a recommendation on a possible suspension of negotiations with Ankara... This procrastination did not meet with an enthusiastic reception in European capitals.

JAN KEETMAN IN AUSTRIA'S DIE PRESSE

The Turks are approaching the EU in the hope that they can retain their Turkish identity. But these feelings will be damaged if the EU extracts concessions from them bit by bit.

<A href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk">BBC Monitoring</A> selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.