Stockholm - Sweden's prime minister Monday offered support for Turkey's troubled bid for full European Union membership, as his country prepared to take over the rotating presidency of the bloc.

After talks in Stockholm with the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis - who also backs Ankara's bid - Fredrik Reinfeldt urged the EU to "stick to our promises" with Turkey.

Sweden takes over chairing the EU from the Czech Republic in July.

After protracted accession talks with Turkey, some countries - notably France - have called instead for a "special relationship" with the secular, but largely Muslim, nation.

At a press conference Monday, along with Karamanlis, Reinfeldt was asked about his views on talks between the EU and Turkey, one of the country's engaged in EU membership talks.

"I think we should stick to our promises. We have said that based on conditionality, Copenhagen criterias, (the) European Union stands open for new membership countries to come in," Reinfeldt said.

"But that means reform processes, that means changes in these countries," he added.

Reinfeldt indicated that Sweden did not support suggestions that Turkey should only be offered a "special relationship", instead of possible future membership.

"Turkey as any other candidate country which fulfills all its commitments has the right to be in time due member of the European family," the Greek premier said.

This approach "essentially offers Turkey a strong incentive to move on in a much speedier and decisive manner as compared to what we have seen up to now," Karamanlis said.

Greece and Turkey are involved in a decades-long row over the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, another stumbling block on Turkey's possible path to EU membership.

During their talks the Swedish and Greek leaders also discussed international measures to tackle the global downturn, and climate change.

Other items included developments on the Balkans, Cyprus that has been divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974, as well as illegal immigration. (dpa)