Given the fact that the EU has just issued its progression report on Turkey last week, the timing of the event could have not been better. It was joined by 180 people from the EU, NATO, think tanks, private sector, and journalist community.  

Commissioner Rehn began with a brief statement on the progression report. He underscored Turkey's continued political reforms, even though their pace has slowed down during the last year. Nevertheless, the Commissioner remained critical of the lack of progress on human, civil and minority rights and emphasized the importance of Turkish civil society to take initiative to push reforms. With domestic support for an EU membership in decline, the issues seem to be difficult to resolve. As recent opinion polls reveal, the Turkish population's support for the EU has decreased rapidly since Turkey's candidature was approved. Minister Babacan emphasized that his country "is still heading for the EU" with the goal to become a strong member of the European Union. He not only referred to Turkey as a model country for the rest of the Islamic world but also stressed Turkey's global and geo-strategic importance for the future of the EU: Turkey can help enhance stability and promote welfare in the Balkans, the Caucasus, central Asia and the Middle East.

Babcan's view was supported by Ambassador Holbrooke who further highlighted the important strategic role that Turkey could play in the regions of the Caucasus and the Middle East. Holbrooke expressed his concerns about the current EU-Turkey relationship and claimed that the progression report should have given Turkey more credit for accomplished reforms. Progress in the negotiations, however, does not depend only on progress in the technical talks, as the Ambassador pointed out. In the end the question whether or not Turkey may achieve full EU membership remains a political one, also depending on the outcome of elections in major European countries such as France and other countries national referendums.