Germany has urged fellow EU nations not to end membership talks with Turkey despite deep misgivings over its rights record because the country is key to European interests.
Austria has led calls for the negotiations to be ditched, saying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has violated the basic EU rule of law and democratic norms candidate countries must put in place.
Other member states have been reluctant to call time on a key NATO ally seen as vital to Europe’s security.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said his government was strictly against breaking off the accession talks. It would be the completely wrong reaction.
The Turkish foreign minister is due to join them for a session on relations with EU candidate countries.