The European Union cannot start entry talks with Turkey unless Ankara adopts a reform of its penal code, a European Commission spokesman said today.
"If this central element of reform, that is the new civil code, is not adopted negotiations cannot start," Commission spokesman Mr Jean-Christophe Filori told a news briefing.
The EU's executive Commission is to present an assessment on October 6th on whether Turkey has met the political and economic criteria that would enable the bloc to start accession talks with Ankara.
The assessment, widely expected to be positive, has been thrown into doubt by the failure of the Turkish parliament to adopt a new penal code, and especially by a controversial measure to criminalise adultery.