101.   The EU has also decided to open membership talks with the Greek part of Cyprus.

102.   The EU offered Ankara annual summit meetings as a stepping stone to eventual membership talks, but Turkey rebuffed the offer.

103.   The EU opened membership talks last year with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus and Estonia.

104.   The EU started formal membership talks this autumn with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovenia and Cyprus.

105.   The duration of the membership talks with each candidate is difficult to predict.

106.   The EU has effectively agreed to open membership talks with the Greek Cypriot side after Turkish Cypriots refused to join an all-Cyprus negotiating team.

107.   The European Commission is expected to recommended Wednesday that the EU governments open membership talks with Malta saying the small Mediterranean island-nation meets membership criteria.

108.   The EU also opened membership talks with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Estonia.

109.   The EU has opened membership talks with the Greek Cypriot side after Turkish Cypriots refused to join an all-Cyprus negotiating team.

110.   The EU says Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria need more time to prepare for membership talks.