Officials say the EU and Turkey have made little progress on resolving the Cyprus issue.
At a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday, the Finnish EU presidency stressed the increasing need for compromise on both sides.
“It takes two to tango,” Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja told reporters after the meeting in Luxembourg.
Brussels has warned that the stalemate over Turkey’s refusal to open its ports to Cypriot planes and ships could derail Turkey’s EU membership talks.
Ankara faces a December deadline to implement full customs union with all member states.
And Turkey is coming under increasing pressure to fall into line.
Greece and Cyprus, backed by other EU countries, have threatened to block future talks if Ankara does not live up to the agreement it signed last year.
Turkey has refused to accept Greek Cypriot shipments until the embargo against Turkish Cypriots in the north is lifted.
But Helsinki hopes its compromise proposal could prevent the “train crash” EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has warned of.
“That is a good prospect, because I think it is in no one’s interest, not in any member state of the EU, or in Turkey's interest that we fail,” Tuomioja said.
Finnish plans would see restrictions on the Turkish-run north of Cyprus cut back if Ankara agrees to open up its ports to the Greek Cypriots.
It seems to me that it is clear to Turkey what they need to do and in how long. I think maybe we miscalculated and they don't really want to join the EU after all. If they don't comply by December does that end the negotiations for their accession? If they do not want to join what kind of leverage could we have?
