President Gül to visit Brussels

Agence France-Presse

During his two-day trip to the EU headquarters, starting on Thursday, the Turkish president should meet with EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and take part in a meeting of business leaders, said the source on condition of anonymity.

Gül will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and the government's chief negoatiator on EU entry, Egemen Bağıs.

Turkey began accession talks in 2005, but less than a third of the 35 policy areas that candidates must successfully negotiate have been opened, amid a trade row over Cyprus, which it does not recognise, and strong opposition to its full membership from some EU members.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also visited Brussels in January where he reiterated his country's desire to join the bloc which currently has 27 members.