In the first such admission, Egemen Bagis, minister for European Union affairs, said that his country had to accept that its long cherished goal of joining the EU was likely to end in disappointment.
Turkey would, he said, probably end up with a similar status as Norway in relation to the EU, which is not a member but has access to the single market through free trade agreements.
"In the long run I think Turkey will end up like Norway. We will be at European standards, very closely aligned but not as a member," he said, adding that his prediction would only change unless attitudes changed towards his country, which would be the first Muslim nation to join the bloc.
Mr Begis, who is also Turkey's chief negotiator with the EU, said that despite modernising and growing its economy, his country was the victim of "prejudice" in its treatment by the EU and its defeated Olympic bid. » | Alex Spillius, Yalta | Saturday, September 21, 2013
