BRUSSELS, June 13 (UPI) -- The European Union's plans to expand are proceeding as scheduled with membership talks under way for admitting Turkey and Croatia.
The group also signed a pre-membership agreement with Albania, reports the International Herald Tribune.
Talks with Turkey began after a compromise over a demand by Cyprus that its traditional rival open its ports and airports to trade with new EU member states including Cyprus, the report said.
EU's foreign ministers asked Turkey to meet that demand or face delays in the talks. Cyprus then dropped its objections to the start of the talks.
A spokeswoman for EU's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the talks with Turkey and Croatia were on target.
EU was expanded from 15 to 25 member states two years ago. Further expansion plans have raised concerns among some members. If Turkey is accepted, it would the first predominantly Muslim country to enter the union. Supporters of expansion say it would help create more stable, prosperous, Western-oriented neighbors.
