BERLIN, Oct 6 (AFP) - The German government on Wednesday welcomed the report from the European Commission recommending Turkey be allowed to start membership talks with the EU and said it would vote for negotiations to begin.
A government spokesman said it was a "very balanced report" and added that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would vote at a European Union summit in mid-December for Turkey to begin negotiations.
"The cabinet agreed that on the basis of the report negotiations should be opened with Turkey," the spokesman said.
"The Chancellor has already said he would vote on December 17 for talks to begin, which as expected, will stretch over a long period, and will be carried out with the goal of joining.
"But the Commission's report also clearly states that this is an open process and that the result of this process cannot be guaranteed."
Schroeder, who is currently in New Delhi for trade talks, said before the announcement of the report that he was confident Turkey would receive the support of a majority of the EU leaders needed to enter talks.
Germany is already home to 2.5 million Turks but Schroeder tried to calm fears in Germany that Turkey's entry into the EU would lead to Turkish workers flooding the job market.
"Anyone who fears the labour market will be flooded can rest easy," Schroeder said, pointing to measures set out in the report to delay the opening of the job market even if Turkey gains membership.