EU Commissioner Warns France
EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has warned France that it’s planned debate about Europe’s borders will not be without consequences. The debate is mainly aimed at Turkish EU membership, which President Sarkozy of France is opposed to. A majority of Europeans agree with his opposition. The discussion is set for December this year, though not many member states have shown an interest. Most fear a public debate will once again show how divided Europe is about such important issues as enlargement. The new EU Presidency, Portugal, has not put Turkish membership discussions on it’s agenda for the 6 months of it’s presidency.
Mr Sarkozy is opposed to Turkish EU membership, something he has repeated on several occasions, and believes that a debate on the issue is “unavoidable.”
So far the French idea has been met with little enthusiasm from other member states, with several concerned that forcing the EU’s hand on this issue will only expose its differences.
The Portuguese EU presidency, in place until the end of the year, has on several occasions indicated it is not in favour of the debate.
“The accession process is an anchor for democracy and secularism,” said Mr Rehn. “Both currents - the secular as well as the post-Islamic - are moderate when the country’s progress is linked to EU accession.”
Read the full article at the EUObserver by clicking here.
Administrator @ July 6, 2007