A half century since Turkey's relationship with the European Union actually began, Turkey's volatile relations with Europe keep its foreign policy agenda under a tense grip. Today, Oct. 16, the European Commission released its eagerly anticipated progress report, raising new questions and concerns, while cautiously praising some reforms.

Overall, the report's findings are not expected to help accelerate Turkey's membership process into the EU, but should be seen as a balancing act to keep the process from derailing.

Not surprisingly, the report has been received in a cool fashion by Ankara. Egemen Bagis, Turkey's chief EU negotiator, refused to comment on the report, complaining that the commission insisted on releasing it during the Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha. "Because it was published against our wishes during a religious holiday, I decided not to comment about it until after it is over," he said, adding, "Our country is in its most transparent period yet, but it is not that we do not have problems."

Bagis, who despite his title is keen to be seen as a Euroskeptic, recently told the Daily Telegraph that Turkey would never become an EU member.