Raffarin reassures MPs over French final say on Turkey

Bowing to pressure from MPs from various
political groups, the French government has organised a debate
in the parliament to debate Turkey’s accession to the EU.
Prime Minister Raffarin says the French people will have the
final say on Turkey’s accession.

Turkey is not ready to join the European Union but
should pursue its membership bid, French Prime Minister
Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on 14 October at
the start of a parliamentary debate over an issue that
has polarised the country.  “Neither
Europe nor Turkey are ready for membership,”
Raffarin told MPs, adding that “Turkey remains very
far from Europe today, politically, economically and
socially”. But the prime minister stressed that a
stable and democratic Turkey was in France’s
interests and that “Turkey’s request is not
illegitimate” (see 
speech

). He reaffirmed that “in any case, the French
people will have the final say” on this issue. Since
unanimity is needed for a new country to join the EU, the
French referendum – due to be organised at the end of
Turkey’s negotiations – will be decisive.

The French parliament debate was set to highlight
major arguments over Turkey’s four-decade-old bid to
join the EU, ahead of an EU summit on 17 December.
At the European Council meeting,  EU leaders
will decide how to act on a Commission recommendation to
open accession talks with Ankara (see 
EURACTIV, 7 October
2004

). The parliamentary debate, called for by a wide range
of political groups including members
of Chirac’s own center-right party, was
largely a symbolic exercise since there was no formal
vote at the conclusion. It found a majority of MPs
in favour of a privileged partnership with Turkey.

With a new poll showing that three-quarters of the
French people are opposed to Turkey’s accession,
French public opinion is among the most hostile across
the EU. President Jacques Chirac, who is in favour, is at
odds with French public opinion. Many in his ruling Union
for a Popular Movement party, including ministers, have
declared themselves opposed to the future inclusion of a
country that is predominantly Muslim and comparatively
poor.  François Bayrou, whose Union for French
democracy (UDF) opposes Turkey membership said that
accepting Turkey would weaken the EU’s political
unity. The opposition Socialist party is similarly
divided. But the leader of the French socialists in the
parliament, Jean-Marc Ayrault,  hasadopted a
pro-Turkey stance and accused Chirac’s party of
pursuing politics of fear. “A modern and
democratic Turkey is starting to emerge and anchoring it
to Europe would demonstrate that Islam and democracy are
compatible,” said Ayrault. “Opening
negotiations with Turkey is a legitimate right for a
country whose history has for centuries turned towards
Europe,” he added. 

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