By Jonny Dymond BBC correspondent in Istanbul

Students in Turkey have begun a postcard-writing campaign to support the country's efforts to join the European Union.

Students at 45 universities are sending postcards to leaders of EU member states urging them to give Turkey a date for accession negotiations to begin.

The pace of Turkey's efforts to make itself acceptable to the EU is hotting up.

A million postcards from Turkish students will land on EU officials' desks

Ever since the election earlier this month there has been a renewed drive to win over EU leaders.

The Turkish cabinet has agreed to make further legal changes to bring the country into line with EU criteria.

The leader of the victorious party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is in the middle of his second tour of EU capitals.

Arm-twisting

Business groups and other non-governmental organisations have been making their way to Brussels to conduct more arm-twisting.

Now the country's students are getting in on the act.

Organisers hope that a million postcards will make their way from Turkey to the desks of EU leaders over the next months.

The cards show four different images of Turkey, with the slogan "For a more complete Europe" linking the Turkish and EU flags.

Turkey's new government knows, however, that it will take more than popular enthusiasm to persuade EU leaders at the Copenhagen summit to be held in mid-December.

The new cabinet has agreed to draw up fresh legislation to complete reforms passed a few months ago.

The government wants the law passed within the next fortnight. All eyes are turning towards the summit where Turkey's European future will be decided.