Germany and France are to send a strong message of encouragement to Turkey over its wish to join the European Union at a summit in Copenhagen next week, the countries' leaders have said.

Solana: Turkey's entry bid must not mix with EU eastward expansion plans

"We are together convinced first that we will have a coordinated, common stance from France and Germany at the summit and second that there will be a clear signal for Turkey," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said after talks with French President Jacques Chirac just outside Berlin.

Mr Schroeder had earlier told the German Parliament that it was important to support those who wanted a secular, democratic Turkey to ensure it does not drift into Islamic radicalism.

BBC correspondent Katya Adler says that, with Germany home to more than 2.5 million Turks, Mr Schroeder is keen to be seen as an advocate of Turkey joining the EU.

Enlargement separate

At the EU's last meeting in October, EU leaders had decided not to set a date for membership talks with Turkey, whose bid to join the western club is strongly supported by the United States.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told the BBC that for Turkey to obtain a firm date for entry talks it must first push for a political settlement for the divided island of Cyprus.

Mr Solana said that, despite feeling positive that Turkey would receive some clear answers in Copenhagen, its government must exert political pressure to get its leaders to agree to a United Nations-sponsored peace plan for Cyprus by next week.

EU sources have also said that the most likely date for Turkey to start entry talks would be June 2004, in order to keep the country's membership bid separate from the EU's ratification of its eastward expansion plans.

While not confirming the time frame, Mr Solana said it would be "more reasonable" if Turkey's acceptance into the EU was not mixed with enlargement.