The Editor
Financial Times
London SE1 9HL

25 November 2004

Dear Editor

To read Giscard d'Estaing "A better European bridge to Turkey" (Thursday 25 November) no-one would believe that Turkey had been an EU applicant since 1999. There is no doubt that Turkey is making progress towards meeting the criteria for EU membership, the acquis communautaire. This is what matters and not M.d'Estaing's very particular view of what constitutes a European state.

The present AKP government, elected with a large majority, is pro European and pro reform. Turkey has been a secular state for the best part of a century and is committed to bringing human and minority rights into line with the European Union.

Turkey is vital to the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean and the larger region. With its obvious economic potential the EU would be the loser if it were to rule out Turkey's joining as M. d'Estaing seems to suggest.

As a member of the European Parliament committee responsible for relations with Turkey I am very aware of the benefits of Turkey's membership. I will continue to work for Turkey's accession which is in the interests of all of us.

Yours faithfully

Mary Honeyball