European Union member states again failed to agree on Friday how to respond to Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, clouding Ankara's EU prospects as it prepares to start entry talks next month.

EU diplomats said that a meeting of ambassadors from the European Union's 25 states -- their second this week -- ended without a response, deemed politically important before the accession negotiations begin on October 3.

"The meeting of the ambassadors is over. There has not been any major shift in the countries' positions," one diplomat told Reuters.

The EU's British presidency, which has been trying to resolve the issue for weeks, has conceded that it may have to call a special meeting of EU foreign ministers, possibly on Sept. 26, an agreement cannot be reached soon.