Talks Finally Start

[sameen]

*relief*
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4305682.stm

I'm not impressed by Austrian brinkmanship at the moment, especially when they know they have the presidency next.

Is it me, judging by Eurobarometer, more people out of croatia want croatia in the EU than croatians in Croatia such an awkward bunch sometimes.

anyway, there's nothing wrong with being a sceptical pro-european.

[Peter Ellis]

It all sounds as political as ever! On Friday, Carla del Ponte was still saying Croatia was not co-operating. Austria withdrew its objection to Turkey, which the UK is apparently in favour of. On Monday, miraculously, Carlo del Ponte says Croatia has been co-operating fully since May! Somebody obviously marked her card.
Quite why the UK wants Turkey in, I cannot fathom. A British Euro MP once told me very emphatically that Turkish membership should be resisted absolutely, as it would cost an absolute fortune to bring Eastern Anatolia up to European standards and that Europe simply could not afford it.