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BRUSSELS – European Union foreign ministers on Saturday tried to put aside their differences over Turkey's membership bid, as they debated foreign policy cooperation with their giant neighbour, DPA reports.

The EU is deeply divided over Turkey's membership, with the Nordic states and Britain backing it, while France and Germany reject the idea. Turkey's rise as an international power-broker has left the EU groping for ways to work more closely with Ankara.

"The purpose of today's debate is ... to recognise that as well as a candidate country, Turkey is a partner with us in lots of issues across the world," said the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, as she arrived at the informal meeting.

Those issues include Iran, the Middle East peace process and Bosnia, three areas in which Turkey plays a key role, Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere said.

Turkey began negotiating towards EU membership in 2005, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both said that they do not think Turkey should ever be allowed to join. They offer a "privileged partnership" instead.

That has split the EU, with states such as Britain, Finland and Italy insisting that Turkey be given the same treatment as other hopefuls.

"Arguably, Turkey today is more influential in the world than any of our member states, together or separately ... We are not talking about some kind of privileged partnership, we are talking about deep integration and cooperation," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said.