The European Union welcomed Turkey's political reform...

The European Union welcomed Turkey's political reform plan as a "landmark" in its EU membership drive, but said Ankara needs to do more on key issues such as abolition of the death penalty."With regard to the political criteria for EU membership, a preliminary analysis suggests that further efforts will be required in areas such as the abolition of the death penalty and ensuring cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin," EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said.The programme lists abolition of the death penalty as a medium-term goal, leaving the decision to parliament.