The European Union has reached agreement with Turkey on the terms under which it can join the EU.

The deal was finalised just before the start of a crucial EU summit in France to review the process of admitting new members from central, eastern and southern Europe.

Turkey had complained that its chances of joining the EU were being made dependent on settling disputes with one existing member, Greece.

There are no details yet of the deal, which required protracted negotiation.

But the European Commissioner for enlarging membership, Gunther Verheugen, said he was happy the project was under control.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service