TURKEY'S bid to join the European Union appears to be in trouble after Brussels cancelled a meeting in Finland set for Sunday and Monday with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Turkey.

By Graham Dines

TURKEY'S bid to join the European Union appears to be in trouble after Brussels cancelled a meeting in Finland set for Sunday and Monday with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Turkey.

Opposition is growing against bringing a large, poor, Muslim nation into the EU. Criticis claim is slow to embrace basic political reforms and is all but refusing to recognise EU member Cyprus.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in Brussels today in a bid to get the Turks to drop their refusal to open Turkish ports to Cypriot planes and ships.