Brussells (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The European Union's head office on Wednesday recommended the start of EU membership talks for Turkey but set stiff conditions to prevent it from backtracking on sweeping democratic and human rights reforms.

The decision was reached by a "large consensus" among commissioners, one EU official said, but no vote was taken. There was also no recommended date to start negotiations. "In principle, yes, but it also said that some conditions have to be fulfilled," EU Commissioner Franz Fischler said. "There is no more ground to be opposed fundamentally to the start of entry talks. It is also clear that there is

still a lot to do."

While the recommendation boosted Ankara's long-standing aspirations to join the European club, the commission warned it would suspend or even halt EU membership negotiations over any serious and persistent failure to respect democracy and human rights.

If the European Commission's recommendation is approved by the 25 EU leaders at a December summit, entry talks could begin in early 2005.