Change of Tide

"The Turks are going to open a port and an airport," said spokesman Mikko Norros, whose country holds the bloc's presidency until the end of the month.

He declined to say which locations could be opened or when it might happen.

Should Ankara open to ships and planes flying the Greek Cypriot flag, it would be a step in the right direction, according to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"If these proposals are constructive, they could be a positive element for the discussions of the European Council," Steinmeier said, referring to the European Union summit in Brussels next Thursday and Friday. "Turkey appears to be cautiously prepared to make a concession."

An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, could only partly confirm the information.

"It's about a Turkish port in the Mediterranean, a unilateral opening without conditions," he said. "It is certainly a new development, but it's too early to say how it will all play out."

He made no mention of any airport being opened.

No comment from Ankara

In Ankara, the foreign ministry refused to comment on the news given the sensitive nature of developments, part of a lingering trade row that is threatening to derail Turkey's long-sought hopes of joining the European club.

"Talks are still under way," a foreign ministry spokesman told the AFP news agency. "For the safety of the talks, we will not share details with the media at this stage."

The EU has been threatening to suspend Turkey's accession talks, started in October 2005, over its failure to open its harbors and ports to craft from Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government, which Ankara does not recognize.

Turkey has so far refused to open to Greek Cypriot vessels, despite signing a trade agreement to do so, until the EU keeps its promise to ease the international isolation of the divided island's Turkish community, a statelet endorsed only by Ankara.

Endangered accession

Last week, the European Commission recommended slowing down Turkey's accession process by freezing eight of the 35 negotiating chapters that EU hopefuls have to complete to join.

Turkey's candidacy has divided the 25 EU countries, and their ambassadors are struggling to find a common position for foreign ministers to endorse at a meeting in Brussels on Monday.

No one, above all the Finnish presidency, is keen to see the issue dominate the summit on Dec. 14-15, as opinions vary widely about whether the vast, mainly-Muslim but secular country should, or indeed could, be integrated into the EU.

But few doubt Turkey's strategic importance, led by a moderate Islamic party, which straddles Europe, the Middle East and the volatile Caucasus region.

No firm deadlines

On Tuesday, Germany and France, two major opponents, backed away from their call to set a firm deadline for Ankara to fulfill its obligations toward Cyprus, which Turkey invaded in 1974 in response to a Greek Cypriot coup.

Without mentioning an 18-month time limit, initially confirmed by the German government, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac called for the EU Commission to produce a progress report on Turkey's bid by spring 2009.

Turkey is due to hold presidential and legislative elections next year, and a new leadership could have a different approach to relations with the EU.