Brussels, Sept 20, SPA -- The European Union cannot start entry negotiations with Turkey unless Ankara adopts a reform of its penal code, a European Commission spokesman said on Monday. "If this central element of reform, that is the new civil code, is not adopted negotiations cannot start," Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori told a news briefing. "The Commission will make it clear that the negotiations cannot start if the new penal code is not adopted by the sixth of October," he added. The EU's executive Commission is due to present an assessment on Oct. 6 on whether Turkey has met the political and economic criteria which would enable the bloc to start accession talks with Ankara. --SPA 1421 Local Time 1121 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/204040