An official survey showed that more than half of Turkish people support the country's membership in the European Union (EU), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported. The Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) conducted a survey on 6,465 people, 51.9 percent of whom said they would vote for EU membership if a referendum is held, while 29.5 percent expressed objection and 18.6 percent said they had no idea, said the report. Among the surveyed, 58.5 percent of men and 45.6 percent of women would back EU membership in a possible referendum. Of those aged between 18 and 24, 57.1 percent voted for EU membership, said the report. The proportion of supporters decreased in older age groups and those with less education and lower incomes, according to the report. Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999 and its accession negotiations with the EU began in 2005. The two sides agreed on June 30 to open talks on tax policy, the 11th out of 35 policy areas Turkey needs to negotiate with the EU before its entry. 