France 'free' to block Turkey's EU membership
 

PARIS, Oct 10 (AFP) - France reserves the right to veto Turkey's entry into the European Union "at any moment," President Jacques Chirac told state television Sunday in an interview during a state visit to Beijing.

The French parliament would be consulted on the issue of Turkey's membership, he promised, stressing that in negotiations with Ankara "at any moment France can withdraw, can apply a veto, or can refuse".

"At that moment, the negotiations end. We are thus totally free," said Chirac, who has previously stated he personally favours Turkey eventually joining the European bloc.

"In any case, the French will have the last word through a referendum if it goes to that point," he said. "And it's a matter that will not be discussed for another 10 or 15 years at the earliest, if it is at all."

The ambiguity of Chirac's stance on Turkey reflected differences between deputies in his ruling UMP party on the issue.

The party has declared itself opposed to the idea of Turkey, a poor, predominantly Muslim state, joining the European Union, which itself already took on 10 new members this year, most of them former Soviet states from eastern Europe.

Chirac has declared he would put the Turkey membership question to a referendum, apparently in a bid to separate the controversy from efforts to have the French electorate adopt an EU constitution.

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Good. Turkish bastards

He also said that any EU member can do the same as France.
The entry of Turkey into the EU will need a unanimous "yes" from all 25 members after the negociations for it that are due to open next year.

Ponrauil

letting turkey in is an even stupider idea than all the eastern bloc countries we let in earlier in the year.

Why Jim?

Ponrauil

is that a rhetorical quesiton or do you genuinely not grasp the idiocy of letting countries that might as well still be int he dark ages fraternise?

I'm asking your reasons for not wanting Turkey to join that's all.

IMO it would be wrong to let them join today but I see nothing wrong in opening negociations with them. That can make them evolve in a positive enough way so that they meet the strict conditions necessary for them to join in 10-15 years from now.
There are very important things they'd have to change before I'd be ready to accept them in the EU but I believe they have the time, will and interests to do so, why not give them a chance? Especially since the EU can close the door at any time if conditions are not accepted.

I also think Turkey is not that backward compared to where Portugal or Greece were when the EU opened negociations with them.

Ponrauil

Greece still shouldn't be in it if you ask me and Portugal had the benefit of sharing a border with Spain which would only benefit it IMO.

Georgia and Bulgaria aren't exactly as helpful in advancing a country if you ask me.

Starting negotiations is a good idea but if I don't see them actually being suitable to join for at least 25 years.

Wether this is the case or not is completely open. i can imagine major backhanders going on in situations like this.

Both countries joined at the same time, as Spain wasn't so much better off than Portugal at the time (1986).

There is also a border with Greece, that means with the EU.

Ponrauil