Grasser, whose country will take over the rotating EU presidency in January, said full EU membership was not a realistic proposal for Turkey. "If you were to ask the people 'are you for Turkish membership'? I'm convinced that you would get No as an answer," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
The Financial Times said Austria's accent on Croatia was significant because Croatia's EU membership talks were interrupted. EU officials fear that Austria will insist that negotiations with Turkey start only after those with Croatia, the newspaper said, adding that Vienna is supported by Budapest and Bratislava, which are likely to raise this question at Monday's meeting of the EU foreign ministers.