(BRUSSELS) - EU ambassadors on Thursday gave the green light for Ankara to open two more of the 35 policy chapters, or sectors, that all candidates must navigate to sign up to Europe's rich club, officials said.

The chapters, on "company law" and "intellectual property law", will officially be opened next Tuesday in Luxembourg, bringing to eight the number of policy areas Turkey has opened since it began accession talks in 2005.

Turkey's quest to join the European Union has regularly been thwarted.

Some 18 chapters are on hold.

Eight were officially frozen in December 2006 due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes, while five more are directly linked to accession and blocked by France.

Island EU member Cyprus is holding out on some, as is the European Commission, which supervises the accession process.

If all goes well for Turkey, officials suggest, three more chapters could be opened before the French EU presidency ends on December 31, but a possible Turkish court ban on the ruling party in coming months could hinder further progress.

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