Blair backs Turkey's bid on EU

Tony Blair will square up to France's Jacques Chirac today when European leaders meet to decide Turkey's membership of the EU.

Mr Blair will use the Brussels summit to demand negotiations on Turkish membership begin as soon as possible. Britain believes bringing Turkey, a largely Muslim country, into the fold would be a strategic prize for the EU.

But Mr Blair faces strong opposition from France, Austria and Cyprus, where there are widespread fears about Turkish immigrants entering the EU jobs market.

With Mr Chirac facing huge domestic opposition to Turkish membership, France may hold out for further delays to its entry. He may also demand that, if talks fail, the country should be granted only associate membership - an idea rejected by Ankara.