Brussels, 20/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Matti Vanhanen on Monday ruled out the possibility that the issue of Turkey may be decided upon by the Heads of State and Government at the forthcoming European Summit of 14 and 15 December. The recommendations of the Commission for how the accession process is to continue will come, therefore, at the beginning of December, so that the Foreign Affairs Ministers will be able to take position at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 11 and 12 December, the Finnish Prime Minister explained. "The Presidency has no intentions of raising the issue of Turkey at the December Summit, said Mr Vanhanen, in Helsinki for a meeting of COSAC, the cooperation body between committees of the national parliaments specialising in European affairs and representatives of the European Parliament. At this stage, negotiations carried out by the Presidency have failed to lead to a compromise on the question of opening up direct trade with the Northern part of Cyprus on the one hand, and access for Cypriot ships and planes to Turkish ports and airports on the other. "Our package contains a limited number of elements", but "it is not a complete resolution of the Cyprus issue", Mr Vanhanen pointed out, taking the view that "a solution is possible", but that "time is ticking". He also stressed that "the real deadline is before the Commission presents its recommendations", which will be "in the first week of December". Commissioner Olli Rehn (Enlargement) fully supports the approach of the Finnish Presidency. "I share the position of the Finnish Presidency, which is that the European Union will have to take a decision (on Turkey) no later than the General Affairs Council of 11 December. We do not need another Summit on Turkey, after those we held in 2004 and 2005", Mr Rehn told the press on Monday. The Commission also stated that the Commission would present its recommendations on 6 December, "if Turkey has not fulfilled its obligations by then", referring to customs union. (ab/hb)