(ANKARA) - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the European Union of dragging its feet on Turkey's membership bid and "breaking" its motivation, Turkish newspapers reported Wednesday.

Speaking at a dinner with foreign diplomats late Tuesday, Erdogan complained of the pace at which negotiations are being opened on the 35 policy areas that candidates must complete.

"The more we demonstrate determination and perseverance, the more the European side responds with statements and practices breaking our motivation and enthusiasm," the popular Milliyet daily quoted Erdogan as saying.

"If the EU sees us as a burden, they should say so," he said. "If that's the case, you should not have opened the door (for Turkey) in the first place."

Turkey began membership talks in 2005 after a series of far-reaching democracy reforms.

It has so far opened talks in eight of the 35 chapters amid a trade row over Cyprus and strong opposition in some EU members, notably France, to the accession of the populous and relatively poor Muslim-majority country.

But Erdogan's government itself is under criticism -- both in the EU and at home -- for having slowed down its reform drive.

The reform process has been stagnating particularly since last year when a severe political crisis erupted between the ruling Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and army-backed secularist forces.

The tensions culminated in a court case against the AKP on charges of anti-secular activities, in which the party narrowly escaped being outlawed in July.

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