Tuncay Ozilhan, chairman of the influential Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), said some 70 percent of the Turkish public was pro-EU, therefore the authorities should opt to reach a consensus on key reforms that will ensure Turkey's compliance with the Copenhagen criteria.

The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association platform, which brings together 46 industrialist and businessmen associations, yesterday published a declaration at the end of a meeting in the southern town of Tarsus, suggesting that the EU was the most urgent item on Turkey's agenda.

Resistance from certain groups, and particularly from the junior coalition partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), to Turkey's EU ambitions, has been worrying pro-EU business and investor circles, as membership prospects are seen as key to attracting much-needed foreign direct investment to the country and restore the economy on a sustainable growth path.

"The negative impact on the economy of breaking away from the EU will be extremely high. Turkey could make progress towards membership without compromising its dignity. EU criteria apply to each member. It's not the most correct attitude to take them as a threat to national dignity," Ozilhan was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

A report titled "Turkey's EU membership, foreign investment and economic growth" revealed by TUSIAD on Thursday suggested that the economic aspect of EU membership was of vital importance.

"Given the current slump in consumption and banking woes, the only option for restoring the economy on a rapid growth path is foreign direct investment. The greatest opportunity for an emerging market like Turkey of full membership in the EU is foreign direct investment from the European market. EU membership eliminates political and economic regime risks, the possibility of protectionism in export markets and macroeconomic uncertainties.

"EU membership would boost foreign direct investment, whereas being left out of the EU would even trigger capital outflow," the report suggested, and projected that Turkey could increase its per capita income by almost five folds in the coming ten years if it could irreversibly enter the EU path.

Political analysts say Turkey must pass key reforms abolishing the death sentence and allowing broadcasts and education in Kurdish language before the European Commission releases its regular progress report in October, so that it could get start membership talks in 2002.

"We have worked on solid legislative amendment formulas for lifting the death penalty, broadcasting and education in mother tongue. Our objective is not to blame anyone but to help create a platform for consensus between political parties and within parliament," Ozilhan said.

TUSIAD and other prominent business groups like the Economic Development Foundation have been lobbying at home and abroad to faciliate Turkey's membership process.

"Our children would never forgive us if we can't make that happen," Ozilhan added.