Critical Turkey Decision Faces EU Countries in Coming Months

Despite the positive winds blowing in Europe, arguments against Turkey’s membership have picked up momentum in several EU countries. While it is known that a few countries will definitely say "yes" on December 17th, many countries keep their silence. For instance, the EU locomotives of Germany and France have to deal with a growing opposition, mainly from Christian Democrats, to Turkey’s membership.

Germany was the first country to reveal that it would say "yes" to the start of discussions assuming the October 6th report was officially positive. The stance of France is not so clear.

Despite the careful silence of French President Jacques Chirac, he is expected to say "yes" to the start of discussions with Turkey. However French Finance Minister M. Nicolas Sarkozy, who is tipped to become leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party in November, insists on a referendum for Turkey’s future membership.

French Foreign Minister Michael Barnier, although he supports the calls for referendum according to his latest statement in Le Monde, disclosed that he is optimistic that Turkey will access the EU. He indicated that turning away a huge country like Turkey would be a grave risk.

No other EU candidate country has had its accession prospects hinge on a referendum. According to a Le Figaro newspaper poll published yesterday, 56 percent of respondents are against Turkey’s membership to the EU.