Interview: Top Sarkozy aide promises rocky road for Turkey[fr][de] 

"Nicolas Sarkozy has made the revival of Europe one of his top priorities," Alain Lamassoure told EurActiv.fr. "For six months, he has worked with France's European partners on the institutional revival of the EU," he underlines.  

On the Constitutional Treaty, Lamassoure indicates Sarkozy's search for a compromise: "France placed Europe in crisis by rejecting the Constitutional Treaty. Nicolas Sarkozy respects the choice of the French, but considers that our country has the duty to propose a contribution to get Europe out of trouble."

"He does not think of Europe in 'Franco-French terms' - his plans are in their timing, method and spirit in keeping with Chancellor Merkel's proposals." 

But on Turkey, Sarkozy's aide says that "the accession process with Turkey...constitutes a major error". 

"European leaders made a promise in 1999, that they are today unable to keep. They did not consult anybody: not their Parliaments, governments, nor public opinion - hostility towards Turkish accession began in France and the Netherlands, but it is now apparent that Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark and Ireland are similarly opposed." 

"Nicolas Sarkozy announced that he would break off negotiations with Turkey if elected. He will do it."

To read the full interview, please click here .