Open the door

Yet again it is decision time in the relationship between Turkey and the European Union, one that goes as far back as 1963 when an association agreement was signed. The Union accepted Ankara as a membership candidate in 1999, having refused to do so only two years before. Yet Turkey is the only candidate country that has not begun accession negotiations. In December, member states, sticking to their own deadline set last year, will have to decide whether to agree a date for talks. They would be ill-advised to ignore Turkey's knock on the door.