EPP “no” message to Turkey

Date: 09/01/03

By Martin Banks

THE most influential political group in the European Parliament has called for a "broad and wide-ranging" debate this year on the sensitive issue of how far the EU should expand.

The European People's Party (EPP) has poured cold water, however, on the possibility of Turkey, and even Russia, ever joining the bloc.

It says though that Croatia, another country with accession hopes, could become an EU member.

EPP leader, the German MEP Hans-Gert Pöttering, spelled out their priorities for 2003 yesterday (8 January). He said that despite growing calls for Turkey, an Islamic country, to join the Union, a majority in the group remained steadfastly against the idea.

"It would be completely wrong to assume that Turkey will become an EU member and that EU policies must change accordingly," he said.

The possibility of Russia joining the EU was even less likely, Pöttering added.

"I cannot imagine this ever happening. Russia is such a vast country that, if it ever joined, the balance of the EU would be taken apart completely."

On the prospect of military action in Iraq, the EPP hopes a war can still be avoided. Pöttering warned that it is "crucial" that Europe adopts a common stance on the issue.

"The EU can only be influential if it speaks with one voice," he said.

The assembly's second biggest group, the European Socialists (PES) is "totally" against unilateral action on Iraq. The PES also distances itself from the EPP on the Turkish question.

Its group leader, Spaniard Enrique Barón Crespo, said Turkey should be treated the same as any other accession country and if it satisfies the criteria for membership there is no reason why it should not join.

"We do not take the view that the EU is some sort of Christian club and do not rule out the possibility of Turkey eventually joining," he said.

Outlining his own group's priorities for the next 12 months, he said the PES was especially keen on the speedy adoption of a framework directive on services of general interest, such as postal services and health care.

The most influential political group in the European Parliament, the European People's Party, has called for a 'broad and wide-ranging' debate in 2003 on the sensitive issue of how far the EU should expand. The party is opposed to the idea of Turkey joining the European Union.