Netherlands takes 'fair approach' to Turkey's EU wishes

Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen said in Ankara on Friday that he does not want to alter the conditions under which Turkey can join the European Union. At talks with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in the Turkish capital, Verhagen said the Netherlands was adopting a "fair approach" towards Turkish membership.

Verhagen, a Christian Democrat, distanced himself from the Dutch right-wing liberal party VVD and Labour party PvdA. Both parties recently published their draft manifestos for the European elections next June. And both manifestos said that Turkish nationals should be exempt from the basic European right to freedom of movement if the country joins the EU. The parties fear a flood of foreign workers will come to the Netherlands if the borders are opened.

"It is either yes or no,” Verhagen said. "I am not going to fiddle with the criteria. If Turkey meets them, you shouldn't have to make exceptions." The minister did say he could envisage a transitional period.

Verhagen said it was more important that Turkey meets EU criteria on human rights, the reform of the legal system and on freedom of religion. Turkey also has to change its policy on Cyprus to be allowed to join the 27-member organisation.

Turkey first applied for membership of the-then European Economic Community in 1987. Formal talks on its membership of the European Union began in October 2005.