Ankara Warns Merkel Not to Politicize Bid as Turkey Crackdown Jeopardizes Union Entry

Turkey's next step forward in its stalled bid for EU membership is under threat due to reluctance from Germany and the Netherlands following Ankara's crackdown on protests, EU diplomats told Agence France Presse on Thursday.

The EU was reported weeks back to be ready to offer Turkey the opening of a new "chapter" in its eight-year negotiation process with the bloc, during an intergovernmental conference in Brussels next Wednesday, eve of an EU summit.

So far Turkey and the EU have closed, or agreed, only one of the 35 chapters -- or sets of rules and regulations -- needed to gain entry into the EU club.

With only 13 chapters in all opened for talks, and none in three years, next week's move would have marked an upswing in ties.

But at closed door talks between EU ambassadors on Thursday, "Germany and the Netherlands expressed reservations, and as we need unanimity we still have no common agreement," an EU diplomat said.

"If we have no accord on Monday morning we will have to postpone or cancel the meeting", the source said.

Despite sharp concern across the EU over the recent crackdown against protesters, the vast majority of EU nations favor Europe remaining open to Turkey's entry bid, especially at a time when it remains key in the Syria crisis unraveling on Europe's doorstep.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel had harsh words this week on the violence, saying that "what is happening in Turkey at the moment does not mesh with our ideas of freedom of assembly."

"I am in any case shocked," she said.

EU hopes of opening so-called chapter 22 on regional development will be discussed once again by the bloc's ambassadors early Monday and, if agreed, put to the 27 foreign ministers meeting the same day in Luxembourg.

"It's a tricky question," said a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. "Whatever we do some will say we're giving the wrong signal."

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele's spokesman Peter Stano stressed that Brussels remained committed to Turkey's accession.

"The continuation of the accession process and the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms are two sides of the same coin," Stano told AFP.

But ties appear strained.

A European Parliament committee this week postponed a visit to Turkey at the last minute after Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sharply rejected criticism of his country's handling of two weeks of deadly anti-government unrest.

"This approach is unacceptable," Davutoglu said in response to a resolution by members of the European Parliament condemning the excessive use of force by police against protesters.

Ankara criticised Berlin on Thursday over a reluctance to open a new chapter that could further its bid to join the European Union, shrugging it off as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "election campaign."

"If Merkel is looking for material for her election campaign, it should not be Turkey," European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis told reporters, referring to the parliamentary elections in Germany slated for September.

His comments come ahead of a decision that is expected to come out of Brussels on Monday on the fate of the new chapter with Turkey, which could have marked an upswing in ties.

But at closed door talks between EU ambassadors on Thursday, "Germany and the Netherlands expressed reservations, and as we need unanimity we still have no common agreement," an EU diplomat said.

A vast majority of EU nations favor Turkey's continued bid with the bloc, despite concerns over Turkey's recent crackdown against anti-government protesters which led to the death of four people and left nearly 8,000 wounded.

Delivering one of the harshest comments, Merkel said earlier this week that "what is happening in Turkey at the moment does not mesh with our ideas of freedom of assembly."

"I am in any case shocked," she said.

Bagis said Turkey's negotiation process would not come to an end "over a politician's remarks" unless there is a unanimous decision to block Turkey's accession.

Turkey's accession talks officially started in 2005 but so far only one out of 35 chapters has been closed, mainly due to disagreements over Cyprus and a fierce opposition from European leaders, including Merkel and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

"Sarkozy tried to use (Turkey) before but it did not end too well for him," Bagis said.

In February Merkel signalled favourable opinion on the opening of the new chapter, while warning that she was "sceptical" about the outcome of the negotiations.

Ankara, however, criticized Berlin on Thursday over its reluctance to open a new chapter that could further its bid to join the European Union, shrugging it off as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "election campaign."

"If Merkel is looking for material for her election campaign, it should not be Turkey," European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis told reporters, referring to the parliamentary elections in Germany slated for September.

Bagis said Turkey's negotiation process would not come to an end "over a politician's remarks" unless there is a unanimous decision to block Turkey's accession.

"Sarkozy tried to use (Turkey) before but it did not end too well for him," Bagis noted.

In February Merkel signaled favorable opinion on the opening of the new chapter, while warning that she was "skeptical" about the outcome of the negotiations.

Turkey has applied for European Union membership and in 1999 was granted the status of an EU candidate country.

The EU opened accession talks with Turkey in 2005, but negotiations have been held up over German and French opposition as well as Ankara's refusal to recognize the divided island of Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004.