Ankara, Turkey, Sept 6, SPA -- A top European Union official said Monday that the bloc's upcoming decision on Turkey's suitability for membership would take into account theseries of reforms that Turkey has carried out. Guenter Verheugen, the EU's commissioner in charge ofenlargement, was in Turkey on his last visit before thecommission is to release a crucial report on whether Turkeyhas made enough progress to meet the EU's membershipcriteria. The report is scheduled for release next month. Turkey hopes to get a starting date for membershipnegotiations at an EU summit in December. Verheugen's visit comes as a panel of former high-rankingEU officials recommended in Brussels that the EU forgeahead with membership talks as soon as Turkey meets minimumstandards of democracy, but warned that that could take adecade. The panel was led by former Finnish President MarttiAhtisaari.--MORE1350 Local Time 1050 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/198584