EU proposals on Turkey too harsh - Britain

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) European Commission proposals to slow Turkey's membership after it refused to open its ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus are too harsh, Britain said today.

''We, the UK government, judge the current measures tabled by the European Commission are too harsh and risk being counter-productive,'' Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told parliament. ''That would be a very poor result for the people of Turkey.'' The European Commission has proposed suspending eight of the 35 negotiating ''chapters'' and refusing to conclude talks in any policy area until the ports issue is resolved.

Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government and argues the EU should first end the economic isolation of breakaway Turkish northern Cyprus, recognised only by Ankara.

EU foreign ministers are due to decide on Monday what sanctions to impose on Ankara for failure to open the ports.

But Beckett said she thought the issue may have to be on the agenda at the December 14-15 summit of EU leaders as well.

She said countries should remember ''the strategic case for Turkish membership is at least as compelling as for any other country -- probably much more so.'' British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stressed the importance of admitting Turkey to the EU as a way of easing tensions between the West and the Muslim world. Turkey's NATO ally the United States also strongly backs its EU membership bid.

''Turkey has to fulfil its obligations to the EU. In the case of the Ankara protocol (on regular trade with the ten new EU members), Turkey hasn't yet done so and it's right for the EU to send a clear response,'' Beckett said.

''But that response should be proportionate and should be designed to get Turkey to fulfil its obligations and maintain the momentum of reform. It should not be a pretext for derailing negotiations.'' Reuters BDP DB2158