Some European Union countries are seeking tougher sanctions on Turkey than the partial freeze in membership talks proposed by the European Commission over its failure to open ports to ships from Cyprus, diplomats say.
Greece and Portugal expressed regret at a meeting of EU ambassadors that Brussels had not proposed a date to review Turkey's progress, which Turkish officials fear would be a new deadline to move on the Cyprus issue or face stiffer penalties.
More ominously for Ankara, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a review clause and France has hinted it too may back the idea, which could unite the countries most sceptical about Turkey's membership bid.
"A stronger verification clause would be desirable so that the council (European summit) can review Turkey's progress, perhaps in 18 months' time," Merkel told a news conference in Riga on Wednesday. Cyprus has complained the Commission proposal to suspend eight of the 35 negotiating "chapters" and refuse to conclude talks in any policy area.
A Franco-German axis demanding a date to reconsider Turkey's candidacy could gain political momentum, with other sceptical countries such as Austria and the Netherlands yet to speak out.
But diplomats say such a coalition is uncertain because the Social Democratic Party in Germany's grand coalition does not back Merkel's position, and French President Jacques Chirac has yet to show his hand.
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