In mid-December the European Council, which comprises the heads of state and government of the EU's 27 member states, had disappointed Turkey by endorsing the conclusions of an earlier meeting of EU foreign ministers, which criticised the limited progress Turkey had made on political reform in 2007 and warned that long-awaited reforms in the areas of freedom of expression and religion should not be delayed any further.

ECONOMIST: Lagging political reform may delay EU membership

In the auto industry, eco-cars were delayed for several years as designers sought ways to give expression to an eco-feature in the look and feel of the car.

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