France's Sarkozy: Enlargement should be "suspended"[fr][de] 

Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the frontrunners to win the next French presidential elections, thinks that EU enlargement should be suspended until the EU solves its internal political crisis caused by the French and Dutch Noes to the Constitution. The suspension would not affect the accession of Bulgaria and Romania but would deal a blow to the hopes of Turkey, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Ukraine.

The statement comes just before the Commission presents, on 29 June 2005, a framework for rules of negotiations with Turkey. EU governments must approve this framework before the negotiations are set to start on 3 October 2005. 

Sarkozy's comments have been played down by other EU members. "Europe must honour its word even if it was unpopular," said the German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. 

The incoming British Presidency, which will host the start of the negotiations, is very favourable to Turkish membership.