Austrians have managed to stop Turkish EU accession talks from starting today.

This is bad. The Austrians have gone back on the deal they agreed to in December, and the EU as a result has broken the biggest promise it ever made to Turkey. Even Greece and Cyprus wanted the talks to start, on the basis that a Turkey which is looking forward to European integration is going to be much easier to deal with on the big security issues that both governments are concerned with. Even the French and Germans made it clear they wanted the talks to go ahead. I can’t think of any other EU decision of equivalent importance that has been wrecked in this way by a member state changing its mind and backing off from a solemn commitment made to the other members. Now, it’s not just about whether Turkey can join; it’s about whether the EU has any credibility as a negotiating partner with anyone at all.