Hail Cyprus!
Cyprus has threatened to torpedo the plan over its territorial feud with Turkey, sparking plans for last-ditch talks between European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and President Nicos Anastasiades ahead of the Brussels summit starting Thursday.
Don't make deals with criminals:
And many critics have voiced unease over human rights concerns in any deal with Turkey, over its arrests of journalists and academics and an intensifying military campaign against Kurdish separatists.
In the background, France and Czech republic support stopping Turkey's blackmails:
Such concerns have been echoed by France and the Czech Republic, which have warned against attempts by Turkey to strongarm Europe.
Czech President Milos Zeman charged that Ankara's request for billions of euros more in EU aid amounted to "blackmail".
Go Cyprus, Go!
The most immediate stumbling block has been thrown up by Cyprus.
Nicosia has blocked six key chapters of Ankara's negotiations for EU membership since 2009, effectively halting the process.
Tusk finally using his brain....
Tusk conceded there was "a catalogue of issues" to address before the Brussels talks, the largest diplomatic push yet to ease the flow of people streaming into the bloc.
And Merkel finally showing some mettle ....
Merkel also made clear she was not about to sign a blank cheque for Erdogan, stressing that "it is very important to say that Turkey must fulfil all requirements without exception" in EU accession talks.
And more voices of reason ...
But her conservative Bavarian allies the CSU Tuesday laid down their red lines in any EU talks with Turkey -- including denying it full EU membership, and demanding a fair relocation of Syrian refugees across all EU member states, not primarily Germany.
The CSU also said Berlin must address human rights concerns in all its talks with Ankara.
The same day three Turkish university teachers were detained on charges of "terrorist propaganda" and a British academic was questioned by police after allegedly distributing leaflets calling for Kurdish New Year to be celebrated on March 21.
(All snippets from YahooNews.)
