EU ‘racist’ if Turkey talks fail to start
"Arguments about a European identity, scare stories about mass migration or supposed public opposition are quite simply euphemisms for what would constitute ‘institutional racism’ by the European Union,” he said.
“This was exposed utterly by two European Commissioners statements referring to ‘the Islamification of Europe’ and a ‘fundamentalist backlash’ – inflammatory language which must not play any part in tomorrow’s decision.”
Howitt called the position of the two commissioners, Dutchman, Frits Bolkestein and Austrian, Franz Fischler “reprehensible” saying that their actions diminished the office of the European commission.
Hans-Gert Poettering, the German centre right leader of the EPP, the European parliament’s biggest group, has argued that membership negotiations with Turkey are premature, and an alternative ‘privileged partnership’ status should be offered instead.
Howitt said that advocating a privileged partnership rather than full membership would signal only one thing to Ankara.
“That they are considered second class; fit only to join in what suits the European Union.”
And the socialist MEP brushed aside right wing fears.
“The truth is that the EPP is deeply split on the whole issue. Tomorrow’s decision should confirm a multicultural Europe with Turkey on a one-way road to membership," he said.
Commissioner Fischler’s spokesman said that the Austrian had been misunderstood, and that his recently leaked letter claiming that Turkey was a non European country had nothing to do with racism.
