The President the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has said that Turkey should be given a "clear date" at this week's EU summit to start talks on joining the bloc but the outcome cannot be guaranteed.
"It is now time for the European Council to honour its commitment to Turkey and announce the opening of accession negotiations. A clear date should be indicated," Barroso told the European Parliament today.
"We accept that the accession process is open-ended and its outcome cannot be guaranteed beforehand," he added.