French Deputy Supports Turkey Regardless

Vatanen said his colleagues "exaggerate a lot" and that French UMP supporters who want to punish him. He said he did not know that the UMP would apply sanctions on him and contrary to claims in the media, the deputy of Finnish origin, added: "I defended Turkey’s membership when I became a candidate on the list for the UMP. In the fight against terrorism and radicalism, Turkey’s membership is a must." French UMP Parliamentarians had put intense pressure on Vatanen to vote against Turkey in the election held on Tuesday at the Commission of EP Foreign Affairs.

The EP Foreign Affairs Commission supported the start of full membership negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey.