AMSTERDAM, Oct 5 (AFP) - The public debate on Turkey`s accession to the European Union is typical of the difficulty in bridging the gap between the EU and its citizens, Dutch minister of European Affairs Atzo Nicolai said Tuesday.
"The whole discussion on Turkey is a very good example of how to deal with the gap between citizens and Europe," said Nicolai, ahead of an informal meeting with his EU counterparts on communicating Europe.
A poll published in the Netherlands on Monday showed that almost 60 percent of Dutch people would vote against Turkey joining the EU if a referendum was held now.
"The concerns (of the citizens) are about the free movement of people from Turkey," he said, adding the EU should show the people they are listening to the concerns.
"But there is a difference between listening to the people and doing what the people want," stressed the minister whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
He added it was the EU`s responsibility to ensure that whatever decision on Turkey`s future is taken at the EU summit in December can be put into effect, which required the support of people.
The European Commission is expected Wednesday to recommend that Turkey is ready to begin talks on joining the EU, but a widely leaked report warns that negotiations could be stopped if Ankara fails to carry out further reforms.
The European Affairs ministers will discuss Tuesday ways of communicating the European and difuse information on the EU constitution to try to bridge an apparently growing divide between Brussels and the citizens in EU countries.
They will also focus on the low voter turn-out for the European parliament elections this year. The Dutch presidency is expected to present concrete proposals for improving communication between the EU and its citizens at the next European Council meeting in November.