Prodi tells Bush: “Stay out of EU affairs’

Date: 19/12/02

By Martin Banks and Peter Chapman

EUROPEAN Commission President Romano Prodi has issued a blunt message to President George W. Bush: "Stay out of EU affairs."

Speaking exclusively to European Voice yesterday (18 December), Prodi referred directly to the simmering row over US efforts to dictate the outcome of last week's Copenhagen summit on the delicate question of Turkey's bid to launch EU membership talks.

Bush, who wants to use Turkish airforce bases in the event of a military offensive against Iraq, even telephoned Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the eve of the summit to press Ankara's case.

Several EU leaders expressed irritation at his actions and feelings are still running high.

Prodi, who was in Strasbourg yesterday with Rasmussen to report to MEPs on the summit outcome, warned that any future debate on the boundaries of the EU must be left to the Union alone.

"We should be allowed to decide our own future without any interference from the United States or anyone else," he said.

"The debate on where Europe's borders lie is a debate about our identity. It will be conducted in the European Parliament, in the national parliaments and involve all European citizens."

His views were strongly endorsed by leaders of the Parliament's party groups.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, the chairman of the European People's Party group, the largest in the assembly, said: "We do not advise the Americans on their relations with neighbours such as Mexico. They should not be telling us what to do with our neighbours such as Turkey.

"The message is: 'don't push it'."

Enrique Barón, leader of the Group of European Socialists, said: "We support Prodi 100% on this. It's a matter for the EU to decide who joins the Union. The Americans should leave the EU to handle its own affairs."

Graham Watson, Liberal group leader, agreed, declaring that the US had "gone over the top" in its attempt to persuade the EU to start accession negotiations with Turkey immediately.

The reaction was the same from smaller groups.Daniel Cohn-Bendit, leader of the Greens/European Free Alliance group, said: "I agree with Prodi. I wonder how President Bush would react if the EU insisted on Mexico or Canada being integrated into the US?"

Francis Wurtz, head of the European Left group, added: "Of course Prodi's right. The US totally overstepped the mark in interfering in the enlargement negotiations."

Danish premier Rasmussen, however, was keen to play down the row for fear of leaving a stain on his country's successful presidency. He had "no complaints" about the US action and predicted that the debate over Turkey's membership would not sour EU relations with Washington.

"Yes, it is a decision for Europe, but Bush clearly emphasised that he was not going to interfere with EU internal affairs and I do not believe he did."

Meanwhile, there were signs of further transatlantic tensions following remarks by Grant Aldonas, the US under secretary for international trade, over the EU's efforts to boost relations with Iran - one of the countries dubbed by Bush as part of the world's "axis of evil".In a briefing at the US Mission in Brussels on Tuesday, Aldonas warned that EU talks aimed at reaching a trade and cooperation deal with Iran risked being perceived as a seal of approval for the regime.

"You wouldn't want the EU's position to appear to be an embrace of the Iranian leadership when the moves that they are making are repressive," he cautioned.

Although conceding that Iran had shown signs of opening up and was debating how Islam could coexist with increased individual freedom and democracy, the country was still a "flashpoint" that could be inflamed by the "actions of folks from outside Iran".

"The situation is delicate: you don't want to endorse things we all agree are incompatible with our values in both the US and Europe," he added.

Aldonas said he was particularly concerned that EU moves to improve relations with Tehran were at odds with its insistence that Turkey cannot join the Union until it has improved its human rights record. "You have an approach on Iran which would seem to be in opposition and conflict with that same basic idea. I hope that is not the case and that this is not seen as an endorsement of what is going on in Iran. I have to say the situation there is worrisome," he added.

European Commission officials stressed later that no trade deal would be signed with Iran unless there is progress on human rights and terrorism concerns.

European Commission President Romano Prodi has warned President George W. Bush to stay out of EU affairs, following the row over US efforts to dictate the outcome of the Copenhagen summit on the question of Turkey's bid to launch EU membership talks.