European Union officials have recommended the EU begin entry talks with Turkey, subject to strict conditions.
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, said Turkey would have to improve its human rights record if the talks were to succeed.
Mr Prodi warned Turkish membership of the EU was not a foregone conclusion, a view echoed by the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler.
The Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, said today his government had already pushed through major reforms since it came to power two years ago.
EU member states, which have been divided over Turkish entry, will take a final decision in December on whether to start negotiations.
It is expected that even if such talks start soon, Turkey would not be able to join until well into the next decade.
