The European Commission said Monday that accession talks with Turkey cannot begin unless a new penal code is adopted. As previously reported on JURIST's Paper Chase, the Turkish parliament recessed this weekend without passing a bill meant to bring Turkey's laws closer to those of other EU member states. In addition to the widely publicized criminalization of adultery, other proposed reforms include tougher penalties for convicted torturers, clauses on genocide, crimes against humanity and people-trafficking, and stronger laws against rape. The Commission is scheduled to report October 6 on whether Turkey has met preliminary criteria set by the EU. BBC News has more.