EU old boys play politics with Turkey

By Ben Hall in Paris and Chris Bryant in Berlin
Published: April 8 2009 23:25 | Last updated: April 8 2009 23:25
Centre-right governing parties in France and Germany have leapt on the awkward question of Turkey’s place in Europe for their own political advantage as they gear up for elections.

The row between Turkey and other Nato members over the job of secretary-general and US president Barack Obama’s push at the weekend for Turkish membership of the E U allowed the German Christian Democrats and France’s UMP to underline their opposition to Ankara’s accession.

With European parliamentary elections in June, followed in September by Germany’s general election, it pays to tap into popular suspicion of Turkey’s EU credentials, which is particularly strong among conservative and far-right voters.

Angela Merkel, German chancellor, ignored Turkish resistance to the nomination of Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Nato secretary-general, and gave the Danish prime minister her full backing.

She and Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, both reiterated their opposition to EU membership for the predominantly Muslim country.

They have called instead for a “privileged partnership”.

Mr Sarkozy, the most pro-American French leader in a generation, tartly reminded Mr Obama that it is the EU which decides who can join its club.

Ms Merkel did not challenge the US president, but the CSU, her Bavarian sister-party, which risks falling short of the 5 per cent hurdle required to enter the European parliament, seized the moment.

Bernd Posselt, a CSU member of the European parliament criticised Mr Obama for “meddling in the internal affairs of Europe”, and suggested the US should instead accept Turkey as its 51st state.

Horst Seehofer, CSU leader, said Turkey “as a self-proclaimed representative of the Muslim world, clearly doesn’t fit in”.

Mr Sarkozy’s party has sought to play up the Turkish issue to highlight its unity on the subject in contrast to the left’s alleged divisions.

French advocates of Turkish membership inside the government have helpfully changed their minds.

Bernard Kouchner, the left-leaning foreign minister, renounced on Tuesday his support for Turkish entry, saying he was “very shocked” by Ankara’s behaviour at the Nato summit.

Mr Kouchner said he was also concerned by Turkey’s evolution towards a “strengthened religion, a secularism that is less emphasised”.