Brief - France: Turkey is main source of opposition to EU Constitution[fr][de] 

Among those who intend to vote 'no' in the French referendum on the EU Constitution more than half (56 per cent) are opposed primarily to show their disapproval of Turkish EU entry. This is one of the messages that can be derived from a telephone survey conducted by Ipsos on 4-5 March and disseminated via French daily newspaper Le Figaro and the radio station Europe 1. 

One-quarter of the opponents see a final 'no' as an opportunity to renegotiate the Constitution and another quarter claim that the Constitution is too liberal on the economic front.

In the 'yes' camp, one-quarter say they are in favour because the Constitution "represents a historic step in the process towards a political Europe". Twenty-four per cent cite progress towards a social Europe as their main reason for supporting the treaty. 

Overall, sixty per cent of French people would vote 'yes' and 40 would say 'no' if a referendum on the EU Constitution were to be held on Sunday 13 March. By comparison with a similar survey conducted in January, the 'yes' camp gained one per cent.