The president of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, says the European Union could act against Turkey if it imposes a trade boycott on Italy.

After meeting the Italian prime minister, Massimo D'Alema, in Brussels, Mr Santer said Turkey would be in breach of agreements with the EU if there were an official boycott; if it persisted, he said the EU could take retaliatory measures.

The row between Italy and Turkey has developed because Italy says its constitution will not allow the extradition to Turkey of the wanted Kurdish separatist leader, Abdullah Ocalan.