BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (AFP) - Herewith key conditions and warnings that the European Union is expected to set in return for a green light to start entry talks with Turkey next week:
-- TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: The EU, facing concerns of a massive influx of immigrants from Turkey, reserves the right to impose permanent restrictions on the free movement of people. It may also demand long transition periods for Turkey to get EU money for farming or structural aid.
-- TALKS WILL BE LONG HAUL: Turkey cannot hope to join for at least a decade.
The draft summit conclusions say that entry talks for countries "whose accession could have substantial financial consequences can only be concluded after the establishment of the (EU's long-term budget plans) for the period from 2014."
-- TURKEY MUST RECOGNIZE CYPRUS: The EU wants Turkey to formally recognize Cyprus, the divided island which was among 10 states that joined the EU in May. Ankara has said it will not recognize the Greek Cypriot government on Cyprus until a durable solution is found to the 30-year conflict between the island's Turkish and Greek communities.
-- MEMBERSHIP NOT GUARANTEED: The EU will insist that the negotiations can be suspended, or even broken off, in the case of a "serious and persistent breach" of fundamental EU values. The EU warns that starting talks does not necessarily mean Turkey will eventually join the bloc, saying that "accession ... cannot be guaranteed beforehand."
12/09/2004 13:11 GMT - AFP